The district will have only five liquor selling centres as against the existing 55 if the State government goes ahead with its new liquor policy.
Also, if the government decides to cancel the licence of two clubs, Cosmopolitan Club and Exclusive Club, the liquor serving centres would further come down to three. Sale of liquor will be confined to the Gateway Hotel, having five-star status. This apart, two military canteens function in the district.
Law enforcing agencies such as the Excise and Police departments, whose operations are already hampered by lack of infrastructure and shortage of staff, will face a Herculean task of enforcing the new rules.
Officials anticipate 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. Checking would have to be intensified at toddy shops, they say.
The police authorities say there will be fewer instances of drunk driving. Instances of drunk driving were found to be more on weekends compelling the police to initiate special drive on these days.
Previously, 30 bars functioned in the district. But from April 1, 2014, the government renewed the licence of 25 bars.
Now 24 more bars will have to down shutters when the new rule comes into effect.
The government also plans to close the outlets of Beverages and Consumerfed by 10 per cent every year as part of implementing complete prohibition in a phased manner.
Liquor costing Rs 2 crore is sold in the district on a daily basis.
With the government announcing its liquor policy, almost all bars have stopped buying liquor from the godowns of the Beverages Corporation.
On the other hand, it remains uncertain whether the five wine and beer parlours in the district would function. So is the case of the existing 208 toddy shops.
Fears have been voiced whether these toddy shops would sell spurious liquor in the wake of the closure of bars and liquor retail outlets.
Incidentally, ex-servicemen who obtain liquor quota from military and NCC canteens might get a windfall from the unexpected liquor policy by selling liquor bottles at higher rates.
