The Kerala government on Thursday approved a new liquor policy that will see more than 700 closed bars reopen.
The new policy has been introduced owing to a significant loss of revenue to the state under Oommen Chandy’s excise policy, reports Times of India.
These are the bars in three and four-star hotels and will serve alcohol from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., while in tourist places they will get an hour's extension, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The minimum age to drink liquor has also been raised from 21 years to 23.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, announcing the new policy, said he has full regard for the anti-liquor campaigners, but “this is not a feasible and practical solution” and hence, they were forced to come out with the new policy.
He said toddy will be allowed to be served in star hotels, which was not allowed earlier.
With the move, the chief minister has thrown out former chief minister Oommen Chandy's 2015 liquor policy that visualised Kerala going completely dry in 2023.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) had recommended the policy to the Pinarayi Vijayan government. More than 700 bars will now reopen shortly, after completing all the licensing requirements.
We have found that there has been no reduction in liquor consumption after the previous government’s liquor policy was in force. Instead there was increase in illicit liquor and use of drugs. We also pointed out that the Udayabanu Commission, that studied about liquor in Kerala, had never recommended for prohibition. And mind you, Udayabanu was a staunch Gandhian too.Vaikom Viswan, Convener, LDF
No sooner did news surface of the recommendation, angry Church leaders and anti-liquor activists demanded that the Vijayan government stick to the old policy.
Archbishop of the Latin Diocese, M. Susaipakiam, expressed deep sadness at the way the Left government had "cheated" them.
The Left government is overtly and covertly helping the liquor lobby. We will not sit idle and we will continue our tirade against this evil.Susaipakiam
Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, senior bishop of the Syro Malankara Church, also chairman of the Anti-Liquor Public Front, said:
Through this new policy, liquor is going to flow freely and figures reveal that when the bars were closed liquor sales fell by around 30 percent. Now unrest will start and the Left should not forget that the people voted them to power not for this.
State Congress president M.M. Hassan said the new policy is "a gift" of the Left to the liquor lobby for their service during the assembly elections.
"It has now become clear that the Left was behind the liquor lobby which was against our government after we brought out a liquor policy. We will bring the people out to protest this move," said Hassan.
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