THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cabinet meeting decided to grant license for the sale of liquor in industrial parks besides IT parks. The license fee of bars will be increased from 30 lakhs to 35 lakhs. With this, there will be an increase in the liquor prices in bars. 250 liquor retail shops closed by the Oommen Chandy government will be reopened. Special licenses will be granted for the sale of beer, wine, etc. in tourist centers during tourism season. The details will be decided in consultation with the Tourism Department.

Toddy from Kerala will be branded as 'Kerala Toddy'. Minister MB Rajesh said in a press conference that the cabinet meeting has approved the new liquor policy.

The first day will continue as a dry day for bars and foreign liquor shops. The license fee for clubs will remain at Rs 20 lakh. The license fee (FL-4) for serving liquor in Sea-Men Marine Officers Clubs has been increased from half a lakh to two lakhs.

Amendment of rules for distribution of foreign liquor in IT parks is about to be completed. Rules will be framed in consultation with the Industries Department to grant licenses for serving liquor in industrial parks. There are industrial parks in both the government sector and the private sector.

Liquor production at Travancore Sugars and Chemicals will be increased to 15,000 cases per day from next month. Liquor production will start this year at Malabar Distillery in Palakkad. Legislation will be enacted to produce denatured alcohol and wine from fruit crops other than grains grown in the state.

Temporary Bar License

For hotels that have been closed earlier and have not gotten their classification renewed, the bar license will be renewed till the inspection by the classification committee under the central government, unless there are other legal impediments.

Hotels and resorts in the tourism sector that are Three stars and above can tap coconut and palm trees from the establishment's premises to take toddy and sell it to guests.

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Number of bars currently: 740

Revised Fee: 35 Lakhs
Current Retail Liquor Stores: 309

With the opening of closed shops: 559

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Foreign Liquor Sales and Earnings

(Last year's figures in brackets)

Made in India......................... 215.3 (180) lakh cases

Beer................................................... 109.66 (86.32) lakh cases

Turnover

Warehouse (bar+consumerfed): 4736.07 crore (3861.22)

Bevco Shop: 13,695.18 crore (10,607.14 )

Total: 18,431.25 crores (14,468.36)

Income to treasury: 16,073.63 Crores (12,625.76)