Thiruvananthapuram sources have stated that at least 77 bars across Kerala reopened today after the implementation of the new liquor policy of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, turning Sunday into a celebration day for tipplers across the state.
It was stated that as part of the new liquor policy, bars
attached to three-star hotels and above have been allowed to serve hard liquor,
signaling a reversal of liquor policy initiated by the previous Congress led
UDF government. Under the partial prohibition liquor policy implemented by the
Oommen Chandy government from April 2014 to March 2017, only five-star hotels
and government-run outlets could serve hard liquor. As a result, around 700
bars were asked to shut down and serve only beer and wine to customers.
Meanwhile the LDF government has claimed that the UDF
government's liquor prohibition policy was a failure. To back its claim, the
government presented statistics that show sales of Indian Made Foreign Liquor
dropping by 7% while sales of beer that was allowed to be served in bars during
the period had grown up by 80%.
