Kerala: Clubs bat for extending bar timing

Kochi:  The timing of ‘permit rooms’ serving liquor in clubs in the state should be changed to 11 am to 11 pm from the existing 9.30 am to 10 pm for the convenience of the members. In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi VIjayan, the Association of Registered Social Clubs of Kerala (ARSCK) stated that a majority of members reached the club late in the evening so it would suit them to have a change in the timing. 

The ARSCK claiming the representation of 45 registered clubs in the state also requested the Chief Minister to initiate steps to bring the necessary changes in the Abkari Act to restore the earlier policy of issuing the licence of the permit room in the name of the club secretary in his official capacity. In the existing system, the licence has to be transferred to the new secretary every year after the elections as the licence was issued to the secretary in his personal capacity.

Apart from the huge amount of Rs 200,000 as transfer fee, the procedure was time-consuming and cumbersome, said the memorandum submitted by T Vinayakumar, president of ARSCK, along with other office bearers. Other demands in the memorandum included flexibility in serving liquor at lawns and other places within the club premises, approval of changes brought after receiving the licence for permit rooms and a lenient approach to some of the office bearers of clubs found to be involved in violations of Abkari rules.