Kerala which earns massive revenue from liqour sales is now set to launch a massive campaign to dissuade people from drinking.

Oommen Chandy said the campaign would also try to reduce smoking and drug abuse in the state Oommen Chandy said the campaign would also try to reduce smoking and drug abuse in the state

The promise was made by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy himself. He said the campaign would also try to reduce smoking and drug abuse in the state.

Chandy's assurance came at a Congress state executive meeting.

V.M. Sudheeran, chief of the Congress' Kerala unit, who was present at the meting, said speaker after speaker emphasised that whatever gains the state had made in social indicators was being spoilt by the state leading the country in per capital liquor consumption and widespread use of other forms of intoxication, reported IANS.

"Chandy assured the meeting that very soon a joint task force comprising of the various key ministries - home, local self government, health, youth welfare, excise and social empowerment -would be set up and if necessary fresh laws will also be enacted to see how this menace can be tackled.

"The various non-governmental agencies who are involved in this work would also be invited to strengthen the awareness campaign besides the local bodies also will be playing an important role in this campaign," Sudheeran was quoted as saying.

Sudheeran however ruled out bringing in total prohibition in the state.

"In 1996, the then chief minister A.K. Antony went ahead with the bold step of banning arrack and in 2004, Chandy also took steps to see that the number of toddy shops be cut down. All these are the Congress' policy of taking the route of what the Father of the Nation (Mahatma Gandhi) wanted," said Sudheeran.

The Congress' anti-liquor steps comes at a time when the state recorded a record turnover of Rs 9,300 crore in sales of liquor and beer last fiscal, up from Rs 8,818 crore during 2012-13.

By Wednesday, a broad consensus would be reached to finalise the new liquor policy of the state and also all eyes are on whether a decision would be arrived to reopen 418 bars, which was closed down last month after they were found to be maintained improperly.

