The Kerala government has raised the legal drinking age from 21 to 23 years. The State Cabinet, which met here on Wednesday, decided to amend the Abkari Act for the purpose.
The previous UDF regime had adopted a pro-prohibitionist policy by shutting down bars and closing state-run liquor vending outlets to reduce the availability of legal liquor.
Norms relaxed
But in September this year, the LDF government eased the norms for four star and above bars by reducing the mandatory offset from places of worship and educational institutions from 200 metres to 50 metres, touching off a State-wide scramble to upgrade bars and hotels.
The dilution of offset norms for bars had invited strong resistance from the Opposition parties and prohibition activists, who saw it as a move to pander to the liquor lobby.
They feared that it would lead to increased alcohol abuse with its accompanying social issues. The Cabinet decision to raise the legal drinking age to 23 is perceived to be an attempt to blunt the criticism against the government.
Johnson. J. Edayaranmula, director, Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, said the new law would merely drive underage drinking underground.
Maharashtra and New Delhi had raised the age to 25 but found it had little impact on the ground.
