THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Don't be surprised if the UDF Government's new liquor policy finds tipplers in Kerala a disgruntled lot. The policy tabled in the Cabinet on Wednesday envisages restriction of bar licences to four-star hotels and above by 2012, and ups the age limit for buying and consuming liquor to 21.By 2013, bar licences will be restricted to five-star hotels, sources said.Fridays are to be observed as 'dry days,' says the policy. The working hours of liquor shops are to be controlled under the new policy.In panchayats, outlets will function from 8 am to 11 pm and in towns, from 9 am to 12 midnight.Under the new policy, the distance between bars has been fixed at 3 km in panchayats and 1 km in corporations and municipalities.The UDF Government has also slashed the quantity of liquor that can be kept in possession by an individual at a given time to 1.5 litres from the present three litres.Toddy shops will be allotted only to groups. There should be at least 50 coconut palms and five tappers under each toddy shop.The UDF's liquor policy is in line with Excise Minister K Babu's announcement that it will be a radical change from the existing one. The new policy encourages deaddiction activities, and seeks to mollify various social organisations, including the Christian Church and other religious institutions, that have been clamouring for strong regulations or even a total ban on liquor.The policy is expected to have wide ramifications in a state where dealing in liquor is a lucrative business for the government. If in 2006-07, the revenue from liquor had stood at Rs 3143.29 crore, in 2010-2011, it doubled to Rs 6730.30 crore.The in-between fiscals showed a steady growth in liquor revenue. Rs 3669.49 crore in 2007-08, Rs 4631 crore in 2008-09 and Rs 5539.85 crore in 2009-10, according to statistics tabled in the Assembly last week.The Excise Minister has also presented some interesting statistics visavis the sale of Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer for the above mentioned years. In 2006-07, tipplers in God's own country lapped up 132.65 lakh cases of IMFL and 50.05 lakh cases of beer. In 2010-2011, this stood at 217.41 lakh cases and 85.71 lakh cases respectively.
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