GURGAON: Want to boogie the night away on New Year’s Eve ? You may be disappointed to know that nearly all lounge bars and pubs will pull down shutters by midnight.

While bars have been allowed to open till 5am on January 1 in Mumbai, only 21 out of 250 pubs and bars in Gurgaon will operate till 1am on that day, and that too, because they have shelled out a hefty amount for the one-hour special extension.

Deputy excise and taxation commissioner Aruna Singh said that the decision to close down pubs and bars was taken in consultation with senior officials of Gurgaon Police and the district administration.

Singh told TOI that excise teams would focus on deadlines so as to prevent mischief-mongers from creating any ruckus in the name of New Year celebrations .

Authorities want to ensure that there is no repeat of the night of December 31 in 2011, when a mob of Delhi youths molested a woman on MG Road.

Apart from deadline, the owners and managers of bars and pubs have been directed that they should ensure liquor is not served to underage people, and no employee, waiter or waitress, serving liquor should be below 25 years of age, Singh said.

Customers must be told to produce identity proof to verify age. The pubs and bars have also been asked to display boards with the sign: “No Liquor will be served to the people under 25 years of age.”

“Also all pubs and bars must install CCTV cameras in their premises and at entry and exit points to keep track of people,” she added.

Party revelers are unhappy as there will be nothing on offer for the night celebrations. “When cities like Mumbai can grant permission to the pubs to stay open till 5 am, why can’t Gurgaon follow the same?” asked Vicky Bhalotia, a private firm employee.

Not just the party-goers, the pub owners also feel that the state government should relax the timing on the eve of New Year to keep their business open beyond the usual deadline for midnight revelers.

The manager of a prominent pub on MG Road said, “Actually the party begins after midnight, but it’s sad that Gurgaon has to close its pubs and bars before 12am. Not just that customers have to be told that they follow set of rules which further dampens the party mood.”