God's own country could be
alcohol-free in 10 years, according to the excise policy of the United
Democratic Front government, finalized at a meeting of its high-power committee
chaired by Chief Minister. Kerala has the highest per capita consumption of
liquor in India
As a first step, 418 bars,
closed since April 1 as they failed to upgrade to two-star facilities, won't
have their licences renewed. Similarly, licences of 312 functioning bars won't
be renewed after March 31, 2015. The government will explore the legal
possibility of terminating their licences immediately.
From April 1, 2015, only
five-star hotels -there are 23 in the state -will be granted bar licences. The
excise policy draft is mum on the status of 111 beer/wine parlours in the
state, but UDF sources said they would be allowed to function. The government
also decided to phase out Beverages Corporation (Bevco) outlets in the state,
which retail liquor. The 334 outlets in 14 districts will be phased out by
winding up 10% every year. Chief Minister Mr. Oomen Chandy said that, the UDF
has come out with a unanimous decision for a liquor ban in the state to achieve
total prohibition.
The UDF's recommendation to
move towards prohibition in Kerala will be shortly ratified by the state
cabinet, following which it would be conveyed to the Kerala high court as a
policy Kerala has the highest per capita consumption of liquor in the country
at 8.3 litres. Punjab comes second with 7.9
litres, while the national per capita consumption of capita consumption of
liquor is four litres.
Apart from the doubtful
efficacy of total prohibition, Chandy risks putting more pressure on an already
sluggish economy . The state would incur Rs.8,000 crore loss due to the ban,
that is more than one-third of the state government's annual plan outlay.
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