Thiruvananthapuram: With the implementation of the new liquor policy of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala, 73 3-star and 4-star bars will reopen. However, the bars will open on Sunday since the first day of every month is a dry day.
The bars will remain open from 11 am to 11 pm. In tourism zones, they will function from 10 am to 11 am.
Excise Commissioner IPS Rishi Raj Singh said that about 80 bars had applied for a license. "We have given the license to 73 of them to reopen. Seven are pending with us as we are in the process of checking their star status," Singh said.
The previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government, under the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, had executed a liquor police which allowed only 5-star hotels to run a bar. The 3-star and 4-star could only function as beer and wine parlours.
The new Left government in Kerala, however, had other plans. It decided to overturn the UDF policy, aimed at phased prohibition of liquor in the next 10 years.
The UDF policy created quite an uproar in political circles, even causing former finance minister K M Mani his job after a bar owner levelled bribe allegations against him. There were allegations against Excise Minister K Babu as well.
The new policy comes as a breather to the guzzlers who were forced to stand in long queues outside the state-run bevco outlets.
The Opposition UDF, led by the Congress party, has protested against the new liquor policy, with Congress leader V M Sudheeran even knocking the doors of the Kerala High Court.
The KCBC (Kerala Catholic Bishop Council ) has also mounted the criticism of this move and the Left government in Kerala.
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