Kerala: Easing bar norms under fire

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government's decision to relax the distance norm for bars in hotels of four-star and above classification has invited criticism from various quarters. The restriction for liquor shops within 200 metres of worship places, education institutions and SC/ST colonies has been relaxed to 50 metres for bars in hotels with four-star, five-star, five-star deluxe and heritage classifications. Hotels of four-star and above classification were enjoying such a relaxation till 2011.

While Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan justified the decision as a measure to support tourist centres, sources said that a dozen  hotels of four-star and above categories, including two in Thiruvananthapuram city, would get the immediate benefit of the relaxation. Additional chief secretary Tom Jose, who is in charge of the excise, issued the order extending the relaxation the other day on the basis of a policy decision taken by the LDF. Excise commissioner  Rishi Raj Singh gave a recommendation in this regard citing request from star hotel owners.

Archbishop Soosa Pakiam and Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran said at a joint press conference that a strong agitation will be launched against the government's decision. A convention of anti-liquor outfits will be held on September 12 to decide the agitation if the government did not withdraw from the move, they said. Archbishop Soosa Pakiam also said that they would also strongly oppose the decision to lift the power of local bodies to grant NOC to liquor outlets. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the relaxation was the outcome of an unholy nexus between the bar lobbies and LDF.

He also alleged moves to extend the relaxation to three-star hotels in  due course. Sources said that it was in 2011 that the then UDF government decided to extend the distance norm for bars in four-star and above category hotels to 200 metres from 50 metres. The fresh relaxation would be applicable only to four-star and above category hotels applying for bar licences. Some new hotels in these categories were unable to get bar licences owing to the 200-metre distance norm. Justifying the decision, government sources cited that even at present many bars are functioning very close to educational institutions, worship centres and dalit colonies as they got the bar licences much before  the 200-metre distance norms came into effect.