No more liquor outlets to be shut on October 2 in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Diluting the UDF government’s liquor policy, the LDF government on Wednesday decided not to close any liquor outlets on this October 2.

According to sources, the Cabinet decided that until the LDF government’s new liquor policy was finalised no liquor outlets in the state need to be closed. As per the UDF’s liquor policy, 10 per cent shops will be closed on every October 2. As many as 78 bars in the state were closed in the state during last two years in accordance with this policy.

At present there are 306 retail liquor outlets in the state — 270 of Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) and 36 of Consumerfed.

Sources said that the government was likely to roll out its liquor policy by next year. There was chance of allowing bars in four-star hotel too considering the demands of tourism sector. The LDF had also stated that its policy was not Prohibition but abstinence from liquor through awareness.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged in a statement that the decision not to close liquor outlets on Gandhi Jayanti was a first step towards sabotaging the liquor policy by colluding with the liquor mafias.