No compromise on new liquor policy: Kerala CM Oommen Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today made it clear that Congress-led UDF government is committed to bringing in total prohibition in the state in the coming 10 years.

"Government is trying to bring in total prohibition of alcohol in the coming 10 years by reducing the availability of liquor," Chandy said, inaugurating an awareness campaign against the use of liquor here.

He sought the cooperation and participation of people to implement the liquor ban in the state.

"No force can stop activities aimed for banning liquor in the state and total support of the people is necessary to reap the desired results," he said.

Under the new policy, retail liquor outlets of state Beverages Corporation, the sole distributor of Indian Made Foreign Liquor, and Bars will remain shut on all Sundays.

Besides Sundays, holidays like Gandhi Jayanti, Sree Narayana Guru birth anniversary and Good Friday are already dry days in the state.

In addition to this, the government has also ordered closure of some 700 bars attached to hotels, except in the five-star category, as part of the policy of reducing availability of liquor to people.