Is Alcohol Allowed in Mumbai Metro?
Mumbai Metro has some of the strictest rules when it comes to carrying certain items on board. It is a known fact that carrying alcoholic drinks is prohibited on local and long-distance trains. But is alcohol allowed in Mumbai metro?
Mumbai metro prohibits carrying dangerous or inflammable materials (such as kerosene, petrol, or firecrackers) within its premises or inside the train carriage. Carrying distilled alcoholic beverages (aka hard liquor) in Mumbai metro is not allowed as they can be highly inflammable. Plus, consumption of alcoholic beverages (including beer) inside the metro is not allowed by law.
Note that the Mumbai metro website hasn’t mentioned anything about carrying alcoholic beverages, but it says you can’t carry anything that can easily catch fire.
Beverages such as beer or port wine are not inflammable, hence I am not sure whether you are allowed to carry them or not. The guidelines provided by the Mumbai metro are not very clear when it comes to carrying alcohol.
If I was you I would abstain from carrying distilled alcoholic beverages inside metro rail. I know beer is 95 percent water and carrying it inside a metro rail should not be a problem, but some commuters— when caught with a beer can in their bag— have been denied entry.
Note: You need a liquor permit to transport alcohol for self-consumption in Mumbai. You can apply for a permit on the Maharashtra State Excise website.
Can I consume alcoholic beverages in Mumbai metro?
Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited inside the metro train carriage. You will most likely be fined even if you drink peacefully without disturbing anyone. The intent behind this rule is to maintain cleanliness inside the train.
And drinking alcohol in public is kind of a taboo in India. According to Statista, only 37 percent of the total population consumes alcohol in Mumbai.
Metro guidelines also disallow commuters from consuming food items and soft drinks inside the train. I feel this is a good decision from the Metro authorities as we have seen how unhygienic things can get when people munch on snacks on local and long-distance trains.
Furthermore, it is not allowed to be drunk in the Metro train carriage. It’s another thing to be mildly drunk but drunkenness can result in a 500 Rupees fine. You will most probably be removed from the train carriage and subsequently from the metro station.
In my personal view, if you happen to be heavily drunk on the metro train, make sure to remain calm. Pick a seat away from other passengers or stand in the space between two carriages. The goal is not to bother other passengers.
Is it allowed to smoke inside metro trains or within the premises?
Mumbai metro is a “smoke-free zone”. Smoking cigarettes or any other substance is punishable by law. Not only that but carrying a cigarette lighter is prohibited as it contains inflammable substances.
Moreover, Mumbai metros do not have a dedicated smoking area on the station premises, so it is well-advised to smoke once you leave the station. You will find a lot of small pan shops around the metro stations in Mumbai. The 10-15 feet radius of a pan shop is unofficially considered a “smoking zone”.
Do they check bags at the entrance?
The security officials do check bags at the entrance— once you collect your ticket and move towards the platform. If you are carrying a can or bottle of alcohol in your bag, it will most likely be discovered by the security person. In addition, they also give you a security pat-down before you move to the platform. What I am trying to say is, don’t try to game the system. It’s simply not worth it.
Final word
Mumbai metro is a quick way to travel anywhere between Versova and Ghatkopar. Provided you have a permit, the best way to transport a small quantity of alcohol is by hiring an auto-rickshaw or a cab. With a proper permit, you can carry up to 12 bottles of alcohol in a public transport vehicle or your own vehicle, says a report by Bloomberg.
