The News Minute| September 10, 2014| 11.00 am ISTTomorrow shall be the last working day for 292 bars in Kerala. In accordance with the state government’s ambitious plan to enforce complete prohibition in the state, process has already begun to close down bars. 418 bars in the state had already been shut down on the first of April. On Thursday the remaining 292 bars in the state that are not five star bars will also be shut down. Whatever stock that remains in the bars has to be transferred to the nearest godown of the state’s beverage corporation, reports the Malayalam daily Manorama.The government had decided that all but five star bars in the state shall be closed down. This decision had sparked controversy, with critics alleging that the government was not willing to hurt the rich drinkers.The Excise Commissioner Anil Xavier has asked all hotels that also run bars alongside to remove the word ‘bar’ from their display boards.The government has been claiming that the consumption of liquour in the state has been on the decline. However, figures point to the contrary. It is very normal that on festival days the sale of liquor burgeons. This Onam, on the Utradam and Thiruvonam days, the two important days of the festival, the government earned Rs. 92.45 crore by sale of liquour alone. Officials of the beverage corporation say that the amount was more than the last year by Rs. 7.5 crore. To cover up this increase in liquour sales, the beverage corporation officials say that the Excise Minister K. Babu and the Excise Commissioner had given them strict orders.