Kerala alcohol ban: Oomen Chandy rules out liquor ban review

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has ruled out the possibility of rolling back or altering the UDF Government’s recently announced phased prohibition policy.

At the Cabinet briefing here on Wednesday, the chief minister rejected the charge that the policy was brought in a haste. “For the last three to four months liquor issue was actively discussed in the public domain. The policy was framed based on these discussions and opinions from a cross section of society including prominent people,’’ he said while replying to a question on the reservations expressed by Catholic church leaders, NSS and SNDP’s on the new policy.

In an apparent dig at his adversaries in Congress, UDF constituents and even social and religious leaders, Chandy said; “At one stage it seemed that all except me were on one side. So I too decided to cross over to majority.’’

The CM said he was aware of the financial loss to state exchequer because of the decision which would be roughly Rs 7000 to Rs 8000 crores. “I am not taking it lightly. As far as we are concerned it is a big amount. But the impact of liquor on the society, the danger to families and young generation was much bigger compared to the financial loss.  We need to look for alternative sources of income,’’ he added.

When asked about the consequences of prohibition as was being experienced in Gujarat, he said  he was aware of it and that’s why the government decided to go for phased prohibition. “As chairman of the UDF committee on liquor in 1985, I studied the issue in depth. Udayabhanu Commission was constituted based on our recommendations.  There are two views; one is for total prohibition and the other is for abstinence.  But our policy is a combination of  both,’’ he added.