Alcohol ban: Kerala heads towards total prohibition in a decade

Thiruvananthapuram: It is curtains for bars in the state. Giving a deadly blow to the liquor lobby and bringing cheers to the prohibitionists,  the UDF on Thursday decided to permit bars only in five-star hotels from April 1 next year.

 Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after the UDF meeting that the 418 closed bars would not be reopened and that the remaining 312 bars functioning at present would also be closed down after seeking legal opinion.

Sunday will also be a dry day  apart from the first day of  every month, thus adding another 52 dry days.  The two-hour-long meeting of all the UDF allies held at Cliff House under the chairmanship of Mr  Chandy decided not to issue new licences to three and four-star hotels. “The aim is to bring in total prohibition in a phased manner,” Mr Chandy said.

“Ten per cent of beverages outlets will be closed down every  year from next year onwards. The UDF policy is to bring in total prohibition in a phased manner within 10 years,”  said Mr Chandy.
He  added that steps would be taken to rehabilitate the jobless bar employees.

While five percent of the income from the total sales at the Bevco outlets will be used for their rehabilitation, one percent will be utilised for anti-liquor campaigns.

“The programme to rehabilitate the bar staff and the anti-liquor campaign will be known as Punarjani 2030 which will pave the way for all the 333 lakh Malayalis to join  hands with the  initiative. These decisions will come into effect from the day the government issues the order in the light of today’s UDF meeting,” Mr Chandy said.

The dramatic announcement by Mr Chandy at the  UDF meeting brought instant relief to party leaders, vexed by the lingering stalemate ever since the 418 substandard bars were shut down following a court order. The announcement is seen as something similar to the arrack ban of former CM, Mr A K Antony.

Oommen Chandy,Kerala CM : Don't agree with the argument that there will be revenue and tourism loss because of the liquor ban in the state

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2014

Oommen Chandy,Kerala CM: Benefits from the liquor ban will be much higher than the revenue loss the Govt will incur pic.twitter.com/fPdPljwpvY

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 22, 2014