Guwahati: People consuming alcohol at public places and near liquor shops across Assam will be slapped with heavy fine and may even be arrested.

Excise minister Parimal Suklabaidya on Thursday said the state government has decided to amend certain sections of the Assam Excise Act, 2000, to curb incidents of drunken hooliganism and brawls.

He said the Assam Excise Amendment Bill, 2017, which was approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, will be tabled in the next Assembly session in February.

Under the proposed rules, consuming alcohol at public places will attract a fine of Rs 5,000 and if the offender creates a nuisance, the fine will be up to Rs 10,000 with a jail term of three months.

At present, drinking at public places is a bailable offence and the offender(s) can be released on personal bond without any provision for fine.

If someone is found consuming alcohol near/outside liquor shops, he or she will face six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. Action will also be initiated against the owners of liquor shops who allow their customers to drink near their shops.

Suklabaidya said the aim is to check drinking alcohol at public places as hefty fines and jail term will act as deterrents.

"Illegal stocking and transportation of liquor will become non-bailable offences with three years' imprisonment and Rs 2-lakh fine. Currently, these are bailable offences with only six months' imprisonment without any fine. In the past one-and-a-half years we have taken stern action against officials of the excise department who were found to be involved in corruption. Four officers were arrested and 18 put under suspension," the minister said.

Suklabaidya said the licence of Manglam Distillers and Bottling Industries at Pacharia was suspended on Thursday for alleged irregularities.

The minister said he has instructed excise officials to step up vigil on liquor shops and bars to check violation of excise rules and drunken nuisance on New Year's eve.

An official source said the cabinet on Wednesday also approved a proposal to fix a minimum educational qualification for contesting elections to the panchayati raj institutions.

"Minimum qualification to contest for zila parishad posts will be graduation. SC and ST candidates have to pass higher secondary test," the source added.