Thiruvananthapuram: In more bad news for liquor lovers in ‘God’s own country’, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to make its new liquor policy limiting bar licenses to just five star hotels into a law.
Kerala cabinet on Wednesday ratified the new liquor policy of the Congress led UDF government which envisaged to shut down bars attached to hotels below the five-star category as part of its plans to reduce availability of liquor.
According to the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s new liquor policy, 418 bars that have been closed down over poor facilities will not be issued fresh licenses and licenses of remaining 312 bars will also not be renewed.
The Cabinet, however, deferred a decision on issues related to licences to beer and wine parlours and elite clubs that serve liquor.
Several matters, including issues related to beer and wine parlours and clubs serving liquors, has to incorporate in the new policy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters during cabinet briefing here.
These issues would be taken up at the next Cabinet meeting, Chandy said, adding, ruling UDF had taken a strong decision now to close down about 730 bars.
The radical policy shift to sharply cut down on liquor trade was taken by the UDF leadership in a meeting last week when it met to consider the fate of the 418 closed bars.
Kerala has the highest per capita consumption of liquor in the country at 8.3 litres. Rum, whiskey and brandy are the state’s favourite tipples. The ban would see the state incur a loss of Rs 8,000 crore that is more than one-third of the state government’s annual plan outlay.
Tourism officials worry the ban might hit the most successful industry in a state that markets itself as ‘God’s Own Country’. Kerala draws a considerable number of global tourists for its sea beaches, backwater hill stations, wildlife and ayurvedic service. Tourism revenue of Kerala amounted to $3.8 billion last year.
However, Kerala is not the first state in India to move towards being a dry state. Gujarat has been a dry state since 1960, Mizoram since 1995 and Manipur since 1991. In Manipur, only local brews are allowed to be consumed. Lakshadweep is the first Union Territory to become a dry state.
With PTI inputs