ORDER :

(R. Mahadevan, J.)

1. Statutory warnings are intended to instil a sense of fear, but they have had very little effect on human attitudes and behaviour towards alcohol consumption. It is also a sorry state of affairs that persons under 21 years, who are specifically prohibited from drinking alcohol, are in fact addicted to it. Therefore, it is incumbent on the state Government to reduce alcohol dependence and addiction as a public health measure by restricting and effectively regulating it’s sale and consumption.

2. The issues sought to be raised in both these writ petitions, by way of public interest litigation, are similar and identical, therefore, they were taken up for hearing together and are disposed of by this common order.

3. For the sake of clarity and specificity, the prayers made herein are reproduced below:

WP (MD) No. 2543 of 2019:

“to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 and 5 to open all Retail Outlets, Pubs and Bars situated in Tamil Nadu only between 2.00 pm and 8.00 pm to sell all alcoholic breweries and to take appropriate action in case of violation of the norms”

WP (MD) No. 5654 of 2019:

“to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respo