Slamming Kerala’s liquor policy, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that if any state intended to implement prohibition on the grounds that consuming alcohol had become a “threatening social evil ruining families”, it should follow the Gujarat model and not differentiate between the rich and the poor while serving alcohol.

“If drinking is a social problem, stop if for everyone like in Gujarat. Why ban just three-star hotels and allow five-star? What is the logic? There are serious flaws. Going by your policy, a rich guy can drink but a poor chap cannot,” Justice A.R. Dave told Kapil Sibal, the lawyer for the Kerala government.

The court also said that 730 three-star bars in the state can remain open for now.

The court also gave relief to 730 three-star bars in Kerala, saying they could remain open.

The apex court allowed the three-star bars, which were to shut at Thursday midnight, to operate till the Kerala High Court decides on their plea challenging the state’s prohibition policy.

It also asked the high court to expedite the hearing and take a decision at the earliest.

The apex court further said status quo should be maintained till September 30, which meant the three-star bars will not have to close at least till then.

When Sibal said liquor consumption in Kerala had had a social impact on families, senior advocate Fali Nariman, appearing for the bar owners, said the policy was flawed.

“A person can very well go to a toddy shop to buy liquor or go home and drink. Only three-star owners face the guillotine. What is the point of this prohibition? Clubs at five-star hotels are allowed. Toddy is left untouched. Only 10 per cent government outlets will be closed every year. The quantity of liquor has not curbed,” he said.

Raising serious questions about the manner in which the Kerala government planned to implement complete prohibition, the court had yesterday sought to know the “logic” behind the differentiation between three-star and five-star bars.