The Dhoble

Bombay is technically still under a state of prohibition. The Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949 is a lovely little piece of legislation which allows officials to issue permits for emergency champagne for medicinal purposes. This legislation has never been repealed, so in law, all adults of legal drinking age (twenty-five and above) need a permit if they want to a drink in a bar. Bars in the city are therefore known as “Permit Rooms”.

By and large, this law is sensibly forgotten, but no