Despite the fact that the number of liquor permits was nearly the same compared to last year, the state excise department said the sale was much lower.

“We will not be able to quantify in figures yet, but many clubs such as the Poona club, the Residency club and the Turf club either cancelled parties or held subdued ones. There was less glitter in hotel parties and most had scaled down their liquor consumption,” said district superintendent of the State Excise department, Vijay Chintalkar.

He said the department was yet to compile statistics on the liquor sale, but the permit sale was almost the same — 107 last year against 104 this time.

He said most people stayed away from liquor because of the looming economic slowdown and the recent terror attacks in Mumbai. The city traffic police’s regulation to close after 12.30 am also dampened the celebrations, he said.

But despite the apparent low consumption, police on Wednesday night arrested 50 people for drunken driving. Last New Year’s Eve, they had arrested 20 people, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Manoj Patil.

“Earlier, a fine of Rs 500 was imposed on those held for drunken driving. But now, we arrest the offenders under Section 184 of Motor Vehicle Act and produce them before the court,” Patil said.

This year, traffic police teams were deployed with breath analysers at various locations to keep tab on those driving after consuming liquor. “Many of the offences were filed at Chandni Chowk on Paud Road,” he said.

“The New Year Eve in 2007 had seen seven road mishaps in different parts of Pune in which one person was killed. This year, there were only two minor road mishaps that were not even registered with the police,” Patil added.

“We have taken frequent and stringent action throughout the year against those driving vehicles after consuming liquor. In 2006, traffic police had filed 69 offences of drunken driving. The number went up to 299 in 2007, whereas this year about 1,500 cases of drunken driving were filed,” he said.