Supreme Court orders ban on liquor sales along state highways across the country

NEW DELHI: Starting April 1, there will be no liquor shops on national or on state highways, the Supreme Court ordered today.The apex court set April 1 as the deadline to ensure all such shops on all highways are shut. And licenses of liquor shops on highways won't be renewed after April 1.The top court's order was on a public interest litigation filed by an NGO called 'Arrive Safe'.Last Wednesday, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justices DY Chandrachud and LN Rao said it would try to end drunk driving on highways.'Arrive Safe' said that 1.42 lakh people die annually in road accidents, many of which are caused by drunk driving. The NGO said the easy availability of liquor from stores on highways was a major reason for drunk driving.