Kerala gears up to implement booze ban along highways

Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 (IANS) The Supreme Court's Friday order banning serving of liquor in hotels and restaurants falling within a 500-metre radius of the highways will lead to closure of a large number of bars and beer parlours, among others, in Kerala.

As per the apex court order, the ban would be effective from March 31 midnight.

Consequent to the new rule, in Kerala, beer, wine and all other types of liquor and toddy will cease to be available in close to 815 beer and wine parlours, 20 of the 31 five star hotels, 153 liquor retail shops of the state-owned Kerala State Beverages Corporation and nearly 3,000 toddy shops, as they are all located within 500 metres of the national or state highways.

Former state Congress President V.M. Sudheeran, however, termed the judgement as historical.

"The Kerala government did try their best to appease the liquor lobby by filing an appeal, but it has fallen flat. This is a welcome ruling," said Sudheeran.

State Minister of Excise G. Sudhakaran said that the state government would certainly abide by the directive.

"We are duty-bound to follow it and it will be adhered to. The state government does not run any bars or beer parlours, so we have no problem. With regard to the retail outlets, those which have to be moved out will be done and set up in new places by strictly following the rules and regulations," said Sudhakaran.

However, the Supreme Court ruling has not gone down well with the tipplers in the state.

"This is a ridiculous ruling. Does that mean if these are located 500 metres from the highways, everything will be fine," asked an angry casual labourer in the state capital.

"This is the most cruel blow by the judiciary, as I have been a toddy drinker for the past three decades. With this new rule, the toddy shop that I frequent is going to be closed down," said Thomas Jacob, a farmer by profession in Kottayam.