Kerala’s Left Democratic Front government's reversed liquor policy has come to effect on Sunday and more than 100 bars are expected to reopen across the state.
On Friday, the excise department had cleared the application filed by 60 bars, as of Friday, while 11 applications were set aside seeking documentation. As for toddy shop owners, among the 2,528 applications received 2,112 were approved.
On June 8, the CPI (M)-led government decided to reverse the liquor policy of the previous United Democratic Front government. The much-debated decision had attracted the wrath of the Church and various other groups which supported prohibition in the state, but the government refused to take a step back.
The liquor policy of the UDF came into effect in August 2014 and paved the way for closing down of more than 700 bars. It also sought the step-by-step closure of state owned Beverages Cooperation outlets. This policy has in effect been overturned.
The bar owners who had obtained liquor licenses had to wait till Sunday to put the liquor available for sale.
As many as 2,000 toddy shops are yet to apply for renewal of their licenses, reports Manoj Kadambad of Manoram Online. It is expected that more bar and toddy shop owners were expected to apply for approval. According to the report no new hotel has applied for bar license. As many as 139 bars will reopen on Sunday reports NJ Nair of The Hindu.
The reversed policy has also set new timing for the functioning of bars. Bars will remain open from 11 am to 11 pm as per this. It has also raised the minimum age for consumption of liquor from 21 to 23 years. The policy decision was to open the bars in classified hotels in three star and above categories.