A ban on the sale of the colas near educational institutions was brought about by the Karnataka government. It’s been 14 days since the ban’s been imposed.

Anyone with a right mind will agree the ban’s stupid; plainly because of some obvious and mandatory loopholes in the law. (Keeping the issue of pesticides, aside)

I pass by 5 famous schools and 3 colleges everyday. And I did a mini survey of sorts of all the “Soft Drinks” selling shops, within 100 feet of all these educational institutes. To my no-surprise,

not one shopkeeper knew about the so called law that’s been passed. And it’s not just the petty shops. Two supermarket-ish places also didn’t know about it. And continue to sell cola. I chose to do this survey after 2 weeks to give time for probably some awareness about the ban, spreading among shopkeepers. Some were restricted to just visits, to see if they’d stocked any Colas.

And when asked if they will not stock colas once they get an order from the government, some were apprehensive, some said, a definite no, and most wanted compensation. Some were practical enough to say “Yaar amma government rules-anu follow madthare?” Tr: “Who follows rules made by the government, lady”. They were sure enough to carry on selling them, despite the law.

Of course, the sample is terribly small. But just proves that the ban isn’t anyway making a difference.

Interestingly enough, most students that I spoke to at these places are all aware about the ban. And needless to say they find it ridiculous.

Reports say the police personnel, area corporation officials, will ensure the implementation of this law. Question is “how” and “why” would they even do that?

“As per the Government Order, those found selling or even consuming any of the banned soft drinks would be prosecuted.”

Indicative of a lack of proper sentence construction? Or plain idiocy?

They plan to now expand it to the railway stations and bus stands.

Finally,
I’m planning to set up a “Soft drinks” shop 105 feet away from Clarence High School. So I will not deprive souls other than students, too, of colas.

[Areas in which the shops covered in the mini-survey are located: Richards’ Town, Fraser Town,Vasanthnagar Millers’ Road, Kammanahalli.]