THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Investigation report that Excise officials in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kottayam districts are complicit in the irregularities of the bars by accepting bribes on a monthly basis. Based on the complaints received by the Minister, Excise Commissioner Mahipal Yadav appointed a special team to investigate.

Working hours of bars are from 11 am to 11 pm but bars were found to be selling alcohol even before that in the morning. Sales are done through the backdoor on days when liquor sales are prohibited. A loophole will be created for this without recording the information in the Liquor Register. Parallel counters are operating in many bars that have received permission to operate service desks. DJ parties and night parties are also reported to be held. Officials also failed to check toddy shops.

The bar owners had complained to the minister and the excise commissioner that many officials were trying to extort money in the name of inspection.

Duty must be fulfilled, action if not

Based on the report, the Excise Commissioner sent a circular to the Joint Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners stating the duties to be strictly followed by the officers.

• Officials should ensure that bar hotels follow the time schedule.
• In bars where service desks are permitted, it should not be allowed to act as a bar counter.
• Unregulated illegal constructions should be stopped by charging fines
• Legal action should be taken against the bars which have not categorised the reorganization of partnership
• Dry day sale, late sale and second sale should be prohibited.
• Alcohol samples for testing should be collected from the counters itself
• It should be ensured that illegal DJ parties and night parties do not take place
• Samples must be collected and tested from toddy shops and the operation of the mobile lab must be ensured. If variation in toddy strength is observed, samples should be collected from all the shops in the concerned group.
• Sale of fake toddy and collection of toddy over permissible quantity should be prohibited.
• Action will be taken against the officials if they fail in their duties.