Decks have been cleared for the reopening of around 200 three-star and four-star bars in Kerala, with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) State committee telling the government to frame its liquor policy for the current abkari year to facilitate reopening of the bars. The State Cabinet is expected take a decision on the recommendation.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of the LDF State committee in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, LDF convner Vaikom Viswan said the committee had told the State government to allow resumption of operations by the three-star and four-star bars in view of the sharp increase in substance abuse in the State, particularly among youngsters, accompanied by a general increase in liquor consumption. “The closure of bars has not brought down liquor consumption. It has only increased,” he said.
Mr. Viswan said the committee had recommended sale of good quality toddy at the three-star and four-star bars at tourist centres. It had also told the government to permit the relocation of beer and wine parlours and other liquor outlets in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict on such outlets on National Highways. The liquor outlets could be opened 500 metres away from National Highways in the interest of the workers employed by them, provided the outlet owners are able to provide hygienic premises and other facilities, he said.
The LDF convener said the Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference and other anti-liquor campaigners were being misled by false figures about liquor sale. Prohibition, he said, had not succeeded anywhere and the experience of the State over the past one year was one of liquor consumption having gone up despite the government clamping down on liquor sale.
The drug mafia was also gaining in strength in the State taking advantage of the curbs on liquor sale. This mafia had international links and it was the duty of the government to free them from the clutches of the mafia, he said.
