Liquor ban: Significant number of bars to open in Kerala after government grants licence

KOCHI: A significant number of liquor bars in Kerala will reopen as beer and wine parlours on Monday, nine months after the state government had ordered them shut. Of the 418 bars that have remained closed since March 31 last year, 180 have been issued licences by the state excise department.

The department has so far received 269 applications for beer and wine parlour licences. "The remaining applications will be considered within two days," excise department officials said. "We will complete quality inspection within the stipulated time." The department has, however, stipulated that the liquor bars can be opened only if they re-employ their previous employees. They must also pay a licence fee of Rs 4 lakh per annum.

While Thrissur has been issued 37 licences, Ernakulam has been granted 24, Thiruvananthapuram 19 and Pathanamthitta 14. Among the northern districts, Kannur has got 11 and Palakkad 10.

The government's decision to give wine and beer licences to closed bars and to lift the prohibition on Sundays had invited severe criticism from a section of Congress leaders led by KPCC president VM Sudheeran. The chief minister, Oommen Chandy, however, maintained that the opposition to the liquor policy had died down.

With the Catholic Church and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are supporting Sudheeran on the issue, the opposition to the policy reversal is likely to continue for some more time.