Kerala govt decides to close down all liquor bars in state

 

Thiruvananthapuram, 21 Aug 2014 (TOI): The Congress led UDF government in Kerala has decided to go for a total prohibition in the state as part of which it has been decided to close down all the bars in the state.

 

The license of 312 bars which are functioning now will not be renewed after March 31, 2015. From April 1, 2015, the government will give bar license only for 5-star hotels which will mean that all the 3-star and 4-star hotels will lose bar license. However, the government will seek legal opinion on whether these bars could be closed down immediately.

 

The government will soon come out with a new liquor policy which will detail about the government’s aim to have a total prohibition in a phased manner, said chief minister Oommen Chandy while announcing the decision.

 

The decision was taken by the UDF constituents in the front meeting which will be now ratified by the state cabinet as a policy decision. The decision will be conveyed to Kerala high court where a case filed by the bar owners of 418 closed bars will be considered on August 26.

 

The UDF has also decided to close down the beverages outlets in the state in next ten years. Every year ten percent of the outlets will be shut down such that within ten years all the outlets will be totally shut down.

 

The government has also announced a rehabilitation package for the employees working in the beverages outlets.