Bars in state will remain closed, no agreement reached in discussions with tax secretary

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: No agreement was reached to open bars in the state. The tax secretary and Bevco MD held discussions with representatives of the bar owners' association but parted ways without a final decision. Although the bar owners' allegation that the sale of parcels of liquor was lost due to the increase in the warehouse margin was justified, the tax secretary clarified in the discussion that a decision cannot be taken immediately.

The bar owners were informed that the decision would be announced after further discussions at the government level. But the bar owners made it clear that they would not sell alcohol at a loss. Consumer food outlets have also been closed since Monday amid rising alcohol prices.

Bars and Consumerfed outlets have been closed since Monday in protest of Bevco's move to raise warehouse margins. The bar owners are of the view that the sale of liquor parcels is impractical as the dividend is nominal. At the same time, there is no crisis in liquor sales in the state as Bevco outlets are functioning