No mercy from government: Toddy shop licensees left disappointed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the initial discussions on the state's excise policy held last June, Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh had assured representatives of toddy shop license holders that their long-standing demand to reduce the distance limit for toddy shops would be looked into with sympathy. However, the government ultimately disregarded this request.

As per current regulations, liquor outlets must maintain a specific minimum distance from certain defined institutions such as places of worship, schools, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe colonies, and crematoriums. The rule stipulates that four-star and five-star bar hotels should maintain a distance of 50 meters, while three-star bars must keep 200 meters.

In contrast, toddy shops are required to maintain a 400-meter distance, and license holders have been demanding a reduction in this limit for many years.

At one point, there were over 5,500 toddy shops in the state. Now, the number of licensed shops has dropped to below 4,500. The workforce, which once exceeded 30,000, has been reduced by half. Still, the government has maintained that BEVCO retail outlets should not be opened within the specified distance limits for bars, even though the liquor policy does not explicitly state this. The current functioning of retail outlets follows this unwritten rule. This policy stance is largely due to the ₹35 lakh license fee collected from bar owners.

Alcohol sales on dry days: Welcomed by tourism sector
The new excise policy, which includes permission to sell alcohol even on the first day of the month (typically a "dry day"), has been welcomed by the tourism sector. Stakeholders said the new policy will revitalize MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and cruise tourism. They stated that this change addresses a long-pending demand from the tourism industry.

Jose Pradeep, President of the Kerala Travel Mart Society, said the decision aligns with the tourism department’s new MICE and destination wedding tourism plans. MICE tourism involves conferences, weddings, exhibitions, etc. The restrictive excise policy had been a major obstacle to tapping Kerala’s potential in this area.

Hotels above a three-star rating, heritage and classic resorts are now permitted to serve alcohol with a one-day permit on the first day of the month. Permission to serve alcohol on luxury cruise ships is also expected to benefit cruise tourism, said KTM Secretary S. Swaminathan.

The Event Management Association of Kerala (EMAK) President Raju Kannambuzha noted that this decision will help attract both domestic and international events and tourists. It will enhance Kerala’s appeal as a venue for high-value weddings and international conferences. He added that the decision will support Kerala's emergence as a global hub in the event and hospitality sectors.