Hyderabad: Even after strict laws against consuming alcohol in public places, drinking spree is going on in the city. To curb this, the police is banking on the electronic system to zero in on tipplers, who drink in public places.

People who drink right outside the wine shops not only put their lives at risk but also make the general public, especially women, unsafe. Women have to take alternative routes to bypass wine shops.

“The electronic system (e-petty cases) has helped us tackle the issue of public drinking,” said B. Sumathi, deputy commissioner of police, north zone. Explaining further, she added, “Under the electronic system, when a person is booked for the first time, the details are registered along with a photograph and the Aadhaar. Later, a chargesheet is framed. When caught for the second time, a jail term is awarded.”

“Electronic system not only helps us identify offenders, but also gives accurate background about them. We have been accessing the CCTV footage to identify public drinking hotspots. With the help of CCTVs, many people were jailed for consuming alcohol publicly during the recent ganesh processions,” concluded the DCP.

The police have decided to go after public drinking as many cases of drunkards creating nuisance were reported in the city. They were found troubling women and children.

Police officials said that consumption of liquor in public places is going on unchecked in several places in the twin cities.

“Many of vehicle owners park their vehicles in front of the wine shop and drink on the road. One such place is located near a theatre where many families frequent. Women face the risk at the night,” said Prasanna Jeet, a resident of Venkatapuram.

If caught and booked for drunk driving, one will face difficulties while applying for a passport, said AV Ranganath , additional DCP, Hyderabad traffic police. The police feels that this can work as a deterrent.

“Hyderabad has a large number of IT professionals. Thousands seek plush careers and higher education abroad. For them, there is a risk when it comes to drunk driving,” Mr. Ranganath added.

The Cyberabad traffic police booked 396 drunk driving cases in a fortnight. A.R. Srinivas, deputy commissioner, said, “Among the total cases, 25 persons were convicted and the imprisonment ranged from 1 to 13 days,” he added.