The lengthening queues in front of the remaining liquor shops in the State compelled the government to extend the operational timings of retail outlets by one hour. From Tuesday, liquor shops will open 30 minutes earlier at 9.30 a.m. and close 30 minutes late at 9.30 p.m.
Even as the Excise Department struggled to mitigate the societal fallout of the closure of liquor vents abutting State and National Highways, it is also mulling over a plan to start showroom type outlets in large buildings with adequate parking and waiting space. It has sought legal opinion to probe whether the government could relocate outlets by circumventing the say of local bodies.
However, Excise officials termed the one-hour increase in operational timings as a “half-measure”, which would have no impact on the ground.
The daily crowds in front of liquor shops were growing and undignified wait forced on the consumers was causing them to become increasingly restive. For instance, petty fights triggered by queue jumping threatened public peace in the vicinity of the sole liquor shop catering to consumers in Nedumangad taluk. The huge inflow of people and vehicles into the suburban neighbourhood has also caused much resentment among the citizenry. Concealed drinking in vehicles parked in front of nearby homes caused local people to protest and warn of vigilante action.
The law enforcement seemed to have generally turned a blind eye to such practices apprehending public ire. The situation was almost similar in other parts of the State, which has the highest per-capita liquor consumption in the country.
No to more stocks
The Kerala State Beverages Corporation, the State-owned liquor retail monopoly, has told the government that its bonded ware houses were overfilled and could not accept any more liquor loads.
