Express News Service By

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Twenty-six liquor shops will down shutters on Friday as part of the state government’s decision to close 10 per cent shops every year. Of these, 22 shops are run by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) and four by the Kerala State Co-operatives Consumers’ Federation Ltd (Consumerfed).

Palakkad will lose four shops, Kollam and Ernakulam three each, while Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode will be minus two each. One shop each will be shut down in Thrissur, Idukki, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta.

The following are the Bevco outlets: Madavur (Thiruvananthapuram), Chathanoor, Kottamukku and Kadappakkada (Kollam), Kozhencherry (Pathanamthitta), Poochakkal (Alappuzha), Kumarakom and Mundakkayam (Kottayam), Thankamoni (Idukki), Kalady, Mulamthuruthy and Vazhakkulam (Ernakulam), Mala (Thrissur), Kollengode and Nenmara (Palakkad), VMB Road and Kottuli (Kozhikode), Kalpetta and Meenangadi (Wayanad), Kelakam and Cherupuzha (Kannur), Uduma (Kasargode). The Consumerfed outlets are in Palakkad, Kasargod, Kozhinjampara and Kesavadasapuram.

Last year, the Excise Department had shut 39 outlets in all as part of the policy; 34 of 338 Bevco outlets and five of 46 Consumerfed shops. In January this year, following a directive regarding liquor outlets on national and state highways, 13 more were shut, including one run by Consumerfed.

The Excise Department has included these 13 liquor shops also in the list of outlets that are to be closed on Friday. After the latest closure, Bevco will have 270 outlets left and Consumerfed, 36.