State chief minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said Kerala will allow only 5-star hotels to serve liquor from April1, 2015, with every Sunday as dry days.
Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) will close down 10 % of its outlets every year. Bevco has 338 outlets while the Consumerfed has 46 outlets.
It has been decided not to reopen the 418 liquor bars that were closed on March 31, 2014. The remaining 313 bars will be closed down next year.
It has also been decided to declare all Sundays as dry days, chief minister Chandy said in a press conference. Bevco will use 1 % of its turnover for spreading awareness against liquor. The new policy will not impact the traditional toddy industry.
The beginning of the present crisis can be traced back to the tough stand that KPCC president V M Sudheeran took against the reopening of 418 liquor bars. The religious organizations like the Catholic Church, women's organizations etc declared their support to Sudheeran in the liquor bar issue. Indian Union Muslim League also supported the Sudheeran. After dithering initially Kerala Congress also followed suit, which prompted a section within Congress to adopt the policy of total prohibition.
Liquor bar licences are renewed annually in the state. This year when the licences lapsed on March 31, 2014 the government decided not to renew the licences of 418 bars, ostensibly in the name of poor quality. The decision, just before the Lok Sabha election, was actually taken with an eye on the vote bank.
The Kerala High Court has in the meanwhile asked the Kerala Government to check how many bars comply with the quality standards. The Court has given time till August 26 for the Government to complete the survey and to submit the liquor policy of the Government.
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