Kerala can sell liquor in five-star hotel bars: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Kerala government order barring public consumption of alcohol, other than in five-star hotel bars, saying there was “no illegality or irrationality” in it, confirming a Kerala High Court ruling dismissing a slew of petitions by the Kerala Bar Hotels Association and others.

Read: Liquor policy is to be encouraged: Supreme Court

A bench of Justices Vikramajit Sen and Shiva Kirti Singh said Tuesday: “Judicial review is justified only if the policy is arbitrary, unfair or violative of fundamental rights.” This ruling is a shot in the arm for other states planning to introduce prohibition.