An order of a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court staying for a month the verdict of a Single Bench on the liquor policy of the State government has come as a relief to the two- and three-star bar hotels in the district.
Shortly after the Division Bench delivered the order in the afternoon, Excise officials who had closed 22 bar hotels on Friday morning following orders from the Excise Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram had to remove the seal of the godowns that stocked unsold liquor.
Soon, many people even started queuing up at popular bars in the city.
Owners of bars were expecting a favourable verdict from the Division Bench of the high court.
Keep the stockThe bar hotels were asked to keep unsold liquor in their godowns, as the State government had not clearly given a hint of taking the stock back.
The government has also decided not to cancel the licence of two clubs, Cosmopolitan Club and Exclusive Club, in the city.
Two military canteens also function in the district. Queues could be seen in front of the retail beverages outlets from morning itself.
This was said to be due to the dry days on Saturday and Sunday.
Beverages outletsAt present, 14 Beverages and four Consumerfed retail liquor outlets functioned in the district after the State government’s new liquor policy came into effect from October 2.
Three outlets were closed since then.
Previously, 30 bars functioned in the district. But from April 1, the government renewed the licence of 25 bars.
Number of barsLater, the number came down to 24 after the implementation of the new rule.
The district also has five wine and beer parlours and 208 toddy shops.
But Excise and Police officials said enforcing the new rules would be difficult.
Spurious liquorThe situation would lead to surfacing of the brewing and selling of spurious liquor that was once dominant in the rural belts of the district.
Besides, liquor may be smuggled in from the Union Territory of Mahe.
