Seventy-seven bars opened again across Kerala on Sunday after being closed down more than two years ago.
The reopening at three-star and four-star hotels became a reality as the government's new liquor policy came into effect on 1 July. Since the first day of every month is a dry day, the bars opened on Sunday at 11 am.
The earlier Congress government closed down more than 700 bars that functioned in two, three and four-star hotels as it formulated a liquor policy through which prohibition would be in place in Kerala by 2023.
On Sunday, the maximum number of 21 bars opened in Ernakulam district followed by 13 in Thiruvananthapuram.
The bars, which opened on Sunday, also have to follow the 500-metre stipulation from state and national highways as laid by the Supreme Court. The government has also renewed the licences of 2112 toddy shops. The bars will remain open from 11 am to 11 pm.
Heavy rush was seen in various outlets, as the bars opened, with early visitors not hiding their glee over the government's decision.
"We are happy that the bars have opened. We can quench our thirst after a hard day's work without fearing the police", said an early visitor to a bar in the state capital.
In Kollam, tipplers welcomed the opening of bars by bursting crackers.
Kollam DCC President Bindu Krishna led a march of Congress workers before a bar which opened on Sunday with party workers distributing sambaram (spiced butter milk).
Meanwhile, Bar Hotels Association sources said they were planning to move the high court to challenge the government's decision to renew licences of bars in three-star and above hotels. This was against the principles of equality, the sources said.
As part of government's liquor policy, the age limit for consumption of liquor has been increased from the 21 to 23.
The government took the decision to reopen the outlets considering fall in state revenue and increase in the consumption of intoxicant substances.
The UDF policy had resulted in the closure of 712 bars below the five-star category as part of its aim to ensure total prohibition in 10-years time.
A majority of these closed bars were later converted to beer and wine parlours.
While describing the UDF's liquor policy as a "total failure and impractical", the LDF government has made it clear that it was against total prohibition, but was for abstinence.
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