State incurring heavy loss due to dry days; govt to recommend change in sale of liquor with conditions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new excise policy in the state is likely to come into effect by the end of this month. Meanwhile, a recent report has claimed that the government is planning to modify the excise policy with conditions. According to the report, the government has recommended in its draft excise policy that the sale of liquor on Dry Days should be modified with conditions. Instead of completely lifting the Dry Day, the government has recommended allowing partial distribution of alcohol in the state on the first day of the month. The draft states that the government made the recommendation based on the report of the Finance Department and the Tourism Department that the state is incurring a loss of crores due to dry days.

Liquor shops will not be fully open on the first of every month. Instead, special exemptions will be allowed for MICE tourism, international conferences and destination weddings. The rules will also clarify how liquor distribution should be done.

Earlier, Tourism Department officials had given a report to the Chief Secretary that Kerala was losing the opportunities to host several international conferences due to the non-sale of liquor on the first day of the month. A demand seeking the lifting of dry days was raised even at a meeting of various departments held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary ahead of the formulation of the new liquor policy.