KOCHI: It may have denied Narendra Modi’s BJP a legislative or Parliament account for all these years, but Kerala on Thursday appeared to be on course to adopt a key tenet of the Gujarat model: prohibition.The state, which has the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in India, has announced a massive clampdown on availability of liquor with an aim to be free of booze in 10 years. CM Oommen Chandy said his state will now restrict liquor bars to five star hotels, and the states’ 400-odd retail booze shops — that serve a population of around 3 crore — will be brought down by 10% every year, paving way for a liquor-free Kerala.The decisions, including the move to make every Sunday a dry day, will come to effect from April 1, 2015. The coconut palm-tapped drink toddy, which has alcohol content of less than around 10%, will continue to be available.Although the state has a strong antiliquor movement going on, Thursday’s decision was a result of the anti-liquor sentiment drummed up by politicians in the ruling coalition, which was in turn an upshot of the factional fight between CM Chandy and the state Congress chief VM Sudheeran.While the Catholic Church hailed the move as a “historic decision”, young entrepreneur and chairman of the Start-Up Village, Sanjay Vijayakumar, said the unintended consequence of the decision would be that the youth will shift faster to other intoxicants like marijuana.Jose Dominic, managing director of the CGH Earth group of hotels, said the decision will breed bootlegging, create law and order issues and kill the most successful industry in the state, tourism.Tourism, one of the biggest industries in Kerala, had brought in Rs 22,926 crore to the state exchequer in 2013. “If they are sincere, they should stop the sale of all liquor, including the bars in the 5-star hotels,” said Innocent, a film star and now a Lok Sabha MP from the Left stable. According to recent studies, the state accounts for the highest per capita consumption of liquor in the country, which stood at 11.1 litres per person per year in 2010-11. With the mean age of consumption of liquor falling to 15 years, it is not surprising that the anti-liquor movement gained momentum.The sudden rise of anti-liquor sentiments can be traced back to the tough stand the KPCC president took against the reopening of 418 liquor bars whose licences had expired. Religious organisations like the Catholic Church declared their support to Sudheeran and the chief constituent of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), the Indian Union Muslim League, also joined the cause. After dithering initially, another ally, Kerala Congress, also followed suit, which prompted the ruling faction in the Congress led by Chandy to adopt the policy of total prohibition.

Liquor bar licences are renewed annually in the state. This year when the licences lapsed on March 31, 2014 the government decided not to renew the licences of 418 bars, ostensibly in the name of poor quality. The decision, just before the Lok Sabha polls, was allegedly taken with an eye on the vote bank.: Kerala, which has one of the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the country, is bidding bye to booze.



State chief minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said Kerala will allow only 5-star hotels to serve liquor from April1, 2015, with every Sunday as dry days.



Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) will close down 10 % of its outlets every year. Bevco has 338 outlets while the Consumerfed has 46 outlets.



It has been decided not to reopen the 418 liquor bars that were closed on March 31, 2014. The remaining 313 bars will be closed down next year.



It has also been decided to declare all Sundays as dry days, chief minister Chandy said in a press conference. Bevco will use 1 % of its turnover for spreading awareness against liquor. The new policy will not impact the traditional toddy industry.



The beginning of the present crisis can be traced back to the tough stand that KPCC president V M Sudheeran took against the reopening of 418 liquor bars. The religious organizations like the Catholic Church, women’s organizations etc declared their support to Sudheeran in the liquor bar issue. Indian Union Muslim League also supported the Sudheeran. After dithering initially Kerala Congress also followed suit, which prompted a section within Congress to adopt the policy of total prohibition.



Liquor bar licences are renewed annually in the state. This year when the licences lapsed on March 31, 2014 the government decided not to renew the licences of 418 bars, ostensibly in the name of poor quality. The decision, just before the Lok Sabha election, was actually taken with an eye on the vote bank.



The Kerala High Court has in the meanwhile asked the Kerala Government to check how many bars comply with the quality standards. The Court has given time till August 26 for the Government to complete the survey and to submit the liquor policy of the Government.

