Kohalpur Municipality Bans Alcohol and Tobacco Near Schools
Kohalpur Municipality of Banke district has prohibited the sale of alcohol and tobacco products within 50 meters of schools.
The municipality has begun strictly enforcing the “Kohalpur Municipality Alcohol Control and Management Procedure 2079” after growing demands from parents. As per the rule, no alcohol or tobacco can be sold within a 50-meter radius of any school area.
Deputy Mayor Sangita Subedi stated that there are 88 schools within the municipality, and strict monitoring has started to ensure alcohol and tobacco are not sold within 50 meters around these schools. She informed that the enforcement is being carried out with the support of the police, both inside and around the school premises.
According to the municipality, complaints had been increasing in recent times that children were consuming alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and that such products were being sold near schools. Hence, the procedure of 2079 has been strictly implemented. Deputy Mayor Subedi mentioned that based on these complaints, immediate action to control the sale of alcohol and tobacco has been initiated. She added that the municipality has already requested the municipal police, Nepal Police, and others to strictly enforce the rule.
Chandra Bahadur Khatri, Principal of Janata Secondary School in Kohalpur-3, stressed that shops selling alcohol and tobacco near schools must be closed immediately, as they have a highly negative impact on students.
Similarly, Mohan Chaudhary, Principal of Sagarmatha Gyanpunj Secondary School, demanded that the rule be extended to prohibit alcohol and tobacco sales up to 100 meters around schools.
Assistant Principal Ram Prasad Chapagain of Jana Gyanjyoti School, Bal Bahadur Khadka Aviral, Municipal Chairperson of CPN (Maoist Centre) Kohalpur, and Chandi Gaire, Vice President of the Kohalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others, also demanded strict implementation of the “Kohalpur Municipality Alcohol Control and Management Procedure 2079.”
Lakshmi Khanal, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Chief of the Kohalpur Area Police Office, expressed commitment to strictly enforce the municipality’s procedure to stop alcohol and tobacco sales around schools.
Banke Kohalpur