Kerala changes liquor policy, around 200 three, four star bars in Kerala to reopen; minimum drinking age raised

Thiruvananthapuram: The Left government in Kerala on Thursday announced a new liquor policy which overturns the earlier decision taken by the previous UDF government as it allowed three-star hotels and fancier to sell alcohol. 

As per the new policy, the bars earlier shut down will also be allowed to serve liquor.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met with his cabinet this evening to approve changes to the current policy.

"LDF leaders met today and discussed the liquor policy in Kerala and recommended that bar hotels having  3-star status  may be opened and licenses may be issued. LDF is committed to follow a liquor policy to minimise the liquor consumption  and lead a people's campaign to discourage celebrating alcoholism," Vaikom Viswan, Left Democratic Front Coordination Committee Convener told media.

Elaborating on the policy, Viswam said total prohibition concept has not been successful in any part of the world and that the Front would campaign for liquor abstinence. He noted that the new liquor policy will also take into consideration the increase in the use of all type of intoxicants. “We do not think this is possible through prohibition, which has failed wherever it was implemented...We will fight the menace by launching a mass movement against not only liquor, but also drugs and other intoxicants,” Viswam said.

He also claimed that the liquor consumption has not come down after the closure of bars, but only increased. On anti-liquor agitation launched by Kerala Catholic Bishop Association (KCBC) and other outfits, Viswam said it was due to some “misunderstanding”.

On previous UDF government’s liquor policy, the Left leader said everybody knew that it (UDF government) brought about a change to the policy due to a tussle in the Congress between then chief minister Oommen Chandy and former KPCC president V M Sudheeran. To safeguard the traditional toddy industry, the LDF has suggested constituting the Toddy board, he said. 

Reacting to Viswam’s statement, KPCC President M M Hassan said his party strongly opposes the new liquor policy, alleging corruption behind the decision to reopen the closed bars. “It is a decision that came out of the illicit relation between liquor lobby and LDF,” he said. Congress would launch mass agitations against the new policy, Hassan said.

In 2014, the Congress-led coalition announced that the coastal state would move to become alcohol-free within 10 years.  As part of that policy, the government said only five-star hotels would be granted liquor licenses.

The decision will bring cheers in the state's 700-plus bars that were shut by the UDF government, effectively making them beer and wine parlours.