THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is likely to increase the bar license fees in the state. The current fee is 30 lakhs. It was not increased last year. Ahead of the formulation of the liquor policy for the next financial year, the government will hold talks with toddy shop licensees, bar owners and trade union representatives on February 21 and 22. While the government will hold talks with people related to the toddy sector on Feb 21, the discussion with bar owners and representatives of foreign liquor companies will take place on the 22.

The bar owners are complaining that the sales decreased sharply as the supply of liquor was halted for eight months from February last year due to the strike organised by liquor companies demanding exemption from turnover tax. They also did not get any exemption in paying license fees in instalments. The bar owners are saying that they won't be able to afford the hike in license fees. However, the liquor sector is one of the ways for the government to overcome the financial crisis.

The main demand put forward by the toddy shop licensees is that the license period should be increased from one year to three to five years. According to toddy shop licence holders, the licencing period will expire by the time the physical condition of shops improves and they begin to generate a respectable amount of revenue. As a result, the income will be significantly lower than the amount of money spent. Toddy shop licensees are also unhappy with the alleged discrimination in distance limits for operating shops. Toddy shops cannot be operated within 400 meters of places of worship, educational institutions, Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe colonies etc. However, this distance limit is fairly less for five-star bars (50 meters) and for other bars (200 meters).