Kerala can soon avoid long queues for booze, liquor vending machines proposed

Here’s good news for all tipplers in Kerala who are tired of waiting in queues outside beverage outlets. The state is soon going to have liquor vending machines outside the liquor shops.

The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) has submitted a proposal with the government to get the machines soon, Manoramaonline reports. 

Through such machines, customers can deposit money and can access liquor bottles on their own. However, there will be a restriction on the number of bottles that a consumer can buy. 

The plan is not to make alcohol freely available, but to put an end to the rush in front of the outlets, KSBC managing director H Venketesh told Manorama.

In July last year, the Kerala High Court had asked KSBC to do something to end the serpentine queues outside beverages. 

HC had raised the need for adequate waiting area for the customers and had said that these long queues cause public nuisance.

“Why is the government showing step-motherly attitude towards public corporations like Bevco. State is showing no interest in improving facilities for consumers at Bevco. Though the Beverages corporation had claimed that they will take effective steps to end the woes of public, there is still no action,” the court had commented in July, Deccan Chronicle reports.

Since then, the corporation had been planning a way to reduce the queue. Introduction of vending machines is one such option which can be implemented soon after the government’s nod.

After the HC observation and as part of the modernisation drive, the corporation has started a token system in outlets which has been a successful initiative. 

Full computerisation of the outlets will be completed this year and they also plan to launch a mobile app that will give information to customers about the nearest branch and various brands available.