New Delhi: Pubs in Delhi are holding private drink unions and whiskey parties for school students, defying a government ban on serving the under-aged.
The parties, popular as Conti, are a huge draw among the 11th and 12th graders. They use the opportunity to flash their coming of age, and to declare their 'me too' status among their peers. "It is trendy... You got to be in it to be counted!" say students who have had their moment under the sun.
Obviously, the students are very demanding when it comes to the Conti. They want it organised in the best of places. They want the meanest DJs in town. They want the deliberately loud dress codes. No less, they want the booze and fag!
Pub managers are, of course, happy to bite on. It is good money for them in the hard times. Reporters who posed as students to call some of the popular bars in the city were told it could cost up to a lakh of rupees for a liquor party.
Similar kinds of response came from other bars as well. Indeed, not one of those contacted turned down the request. Vikas Choudhury, an executive of a bar in Bhikaji Cama Place, South Delhi, said there was no problem serving alcohol to students. Hemlata, a hostess at a bar in Malcha Marg, Central Delhi, said yes to alcohol too.
For the record, of course, the law against serving those below 25 is well stated. All bars dutifully display
boards proclaiming obedience of the law. But that is just as far as it gets.
For the violating pubs, the going is easy. The parties are fiercely discreet affairs organised by students without help, advice or permission of the school authorities. "The teachers can govern us within the school premises and during school hours. What we do outside is none of their business," a student of a top public school says after being promised anonymity.
Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely is reticent too. "This is outside my jurisdiction...," he says. "I can only monitor the activities inside the school."
In 2009, a student of a school in Mayapuri, West Delhi, was thrashed by his classmates during a Conti. He held his grudge for a whole year, bidding time. Then he saw his chance to get back at his tormentors when they returned to organise a Conti.
He assumed a name, created a fake email id, brought a sim card for his phone, and using the false identity, tipped off the press and the police. He even had his girlfriend planted inside the reserved club area to take photographs and to keep up a running line with him as he paraded impatiently outside, waiting for retribution.
Sanjay Chug, a clinical psychologist, has been dealing with many of such cases. He says 30 to 40 parents have come to him in the past three months looking for help to handle children who returned home drunk and out of control after a Conti. "Most of the parents had erred in believing the Conti was a harmless, fun-time affair. They were completely in shock... stunned by how it had eventually unfolded!"
Rashmi Rai (name changed to protect her identity) had stepped out of home dressed in salwar suit, saying she was going to a school Conti. Her parents did not know she had a secret wardrobe at a friend's pad, consisting of a plunger top and a skirt that stopped way up on her thigh, that night some boys from her class brought her home "dead drunk".
The parties, popular as Conti, are a huge draw among the 11th and 12th graders. They use the opportunity to flash their coming of age, and to declare their 'me too' status among their peers. "It is trendy... You got to be in it to be counted!" say students who have had their moment under the sun.
Obviously, the students are very demanding when it comes to the Conti. They want it organised in the best of places. They want the meanest DJs in town. They want the deliberately loud dress codes. No less, they want the booze and fag!
Pub managers are, of course, happy to bite on. It is good money for them in the hard times. Reporters who posed as students to call some of the popular bars in the city were told it could cost up to a lakh of rupees for a liquor party.
Advertisement
Similar kinds of response came from other bars as well. Indeed, not one of those contacted turned down the request. Vikas Choudhury, an executive of a bar in Bhikaji Cama Place, South Delhi, said there was no problem serving alcohol to students. Hemlata, a hostess at a bar in Malcha Marg, Central Delhi, said yes to alcohol too.
Advertisement
For the record, of course, the law against serving those below 25 is well stated. All bars dutifully display
boards proclaiming obedience of the law. But that is just as far as it gets.
Advertisement
For the violating pubs, the going is easy. The parties are fiercely discreet affairs organised by students without help, advice or permission of the school authorities. "The teachers can govern us within the school premises and during school hours. What we do outside is none of their business," a student of a top public school says after being promised anonymity.
Advertisement
Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely is reticent too. "This is outside my jurisdiction...," he says. "I can only monitor the activities inside the school."
Advertisement
In 2009, a student of a school in Mayapuri, West Delhi, was thrashed by his classmates during a Conti. He held his grudge for a whole year, bidding time. Then he saw his chance to get back at his tormentors when they returned to organise a Conti.
He assumed a name, created a fake email id, brought a sim card for his phone, and using the false identity, tipped off the press and the police. He even had his girlfriend planted inside the reserved club area to take photographs and to keep up a running line with him as he paraded impatiently outside, waiting for retribution.
Sanjay Chug, a clinical psychologist, has been dealing with many of such cases. He says 30 to 40 parents have come to him in the past three months looking for help to handle children who returned home drunk and out of control after a Conti. "Most of the parents had erred in believing the Conti was a harmless, fun-time affair. They were completely in shock... stunned by how it had eventually unfolded!"
Rashmi Rai (name changed to protect her identity) had stepped out of home dressed in salwar suit, saying she was going to a school Conti. Her parents did not know she had a secret wardrobe at a friend's pad, consisting of a plunger top and a skirt that stopped way up on her thigh, that night some boys from her class brought her home "dead drunk".
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Delhi Prisons Announces Remission For 1160 Convicts On Independence Day Bangladeshi Students On Alert, To Remain On Streets To Resist Chaos Delhi Airport Becomes 1st To Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission Status Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool "Took Advantage Of His Addiction": 5 Charged Over Matthew Perry's Death Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.