LDF government has their own new policy regarding sale and consumption of alcohol in the state
Words: Vandana Devi Images: Various Sources
“Prohibition has not succeeded anywhere in the world. It only helped drug smugglers and bootlegging. Here [in Kerala] we are experiencing a dangerous situation of alcoholics turning to drugs and posing a threat to the society,”Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Keeping this in mind, the Government of Kerala has announced a new liquor policy, reversing the previous Congress-led government’s policy. They will now be giving bar licences to restaurants in hotels of three-star and four-star category. Liquor will also now be available in domestic lounges of airports in the state. Bar hotels will also be permitted to sell toddy. The age limit for buying and consumption of liquor has been raised from 21 to 23 years. Outlets existing before April 1, 2017 will be allowed to be open in permissible areas beyond the 500m from state or national highways. The timings of these outlets has also been reduced to 12 hours, except in tourist destinations.
The Chief Minister also said that “The ban of bar licences to three-star and above hotels has affected tourism, which in turn affected the state’s revenue.” He added that the government would strengthen de-addiction centres and activities helping people abstain from consumption.