Highway liquor ban: Kerala to cite land crunch for relief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Citing land scarcity in Kerala when compared to other states, the state may seek exemption from the Supreme Court directive prohibiting liquor shops within 500 metres from highways. Around 115 of the 270 retail liquor outlets of Kerala State Beverages Corporation, six of the 36 outlets of Consumerfed and 200 of the 815 beer-wine parlours are situated along highways and a good number of the 31 five-star hotels with bar facility are also located along the highways. Apart these many toddy shops are also located along highways.

According to government sources, it would be a near impossible task in a state like Kerala to relocate all liquor outlets along the highways to 500 metres away from the present location. “Compared to other states, Kerala is smaller and land is scarce here. It was considering this factor that even the national highway’s width in the state was limited to 45 metres, while it is 60 metres in other states. Citing this, the state could also seek exemption,” a government official said. Despite an earlier court directive to shift retail liquor outlets along the side of national highway, only around 25 outlets could be relocated over these years.

Apart from scarcity of land, local resistance has been a major hindrance in relocating liquor outlets in the state. As per regulations, liquor outlets could not be set up in around 200 metres from worship centres, educational institutions or residential areas. “Identifying a suitable place for relocating the outlets on highways is a Herculean task. Once we identify a location that meets all existing parametres, the local people turn out to protest to shift the liquor outlet from their locality,” said Kerala State Beverages Corporation managing director H. Venkatesh.

Kerala Bar Hotels Association working president Biju Ramesh said that the court directive would lead to the closure of over 200 hotels with beer and wine licences along the highways. “The beer and wine licence are issued to hotels. Hence, it is not possible to shift the beer and wine parlour alone. Relocating the hotels is not at all a practical order,” said Mr Ramesh.