Kozhikode: Spurious booze raises concerns

Kozhikode: As expected, the closure of the liquor outlets on highways, is having a negative impact, with the cases smuggling spurious liquor rising sharply. Excise officials say the district is facing a threat of spurious liquor, and the condition was expected to worsen with the oncoming Vishu and Easter celebrations this week. They recorded 24 Abkari cases along with seizures of 128.4 litres of liquor from Mahe. They also seized 1,433 litres of wash, 15 litres of Goa liquor and 23.5 litres of KSBC.

The department has also announced a special drive against the spurious liquor until April 20, said deputy commissioner P.K. Suresh. “Already a control room has been opened as part of the drive. Two strike forces have started functioning ahead of the celebrations for fear of the sale of spurious liquor. A combined operation along with the police, forest and railway police has been charted out ahead of Easter and Vishu,” he said.

In the absence of liquor outlets, the officials also fear that flow of tobacco products and other drugs might also increase. The special drive is also aimed at tackling the drug menace in the district, they said. Already, they had announced that there would be high chances for the flow of spurious liquor when there is a non-availability of liquor in the open market. There is already a direction from the excise commissioner to be alert and be at full strength, till the shifting process is over.