About 90 Percent of the bar license holders in the capital violate the Alcohol Service Rules, according to a research conducted by the Public Health Officials.
The study found out, about 70 percent of bar-owners sell alcohol beyond the permitted hours. They are allowed to sell alcohol from 1 PM up until 10 PM.
The research also revealed 48 percent of bar-owners selling alcohol on a dry day which falls on Tuesday, every week.
The bar-owners are also found selling alcohol to those below the age of 18.
Also, the Alcohol Service Rules states that bar-owners are not to sell alcohol to inebriated customers. However, even that rule is being flouted, says the research. It was also found out that not many bar-owners display the alcohol notification.
The findings by the Responsible Alcohol Service Programme is from the first-ever study on alcohol public policy in the country.
Alcohol is one of the top killers in the capital. In 2013 alone, 80 percent of alcohol-related road accidents were reported. Alcoholic liver disease had been also the leading cause of deaths over the years.
There are 710 bar license holders in Thimphu, making it the highest among all the Dzongkhags.
