Trivandrum: Excise Minister, Shri MB Rajesh said that the Cabinet meeting has approved the State Abkari Policy 2023. Addressing a press conference, he said that the liquor policy is related to three sectors namely Vimukti, toddy sector and foreign liquor.
The face of the toddy shops will be changed and converted into establishments where Kerala’s unique food and pure toddy are also available to foreign tourists. Toddy produced in Kerala will be branded as ‘Kerala Toddy’, the Minister said.
Hotels with three-star classification or above and resorts operating in tourism areas will be allowed to tap toddy within their respective establishments and serve it to guests. Instead of throwing away the excess toddy after the respective days’ sales, the Kudumbashree will make value-added products like vinegar from it.
The Minister announced that a mechanism would be set up to manufacture foreign liquor and beer as much as possible within the state. Necessary adjustments will be made in existing regulations to promote the export of Indian-made foreign liquor. The high brand registration fee and export fee, which adversely affect the export of liquor, will be restructured to encourage exports.
Production of extra neutral alcohol required for alcohol production in the state will be encouraged in Kerala itself. Steps will be taken to increase alcohol production at the state-owned Travancore Sugars and Chemicals. Liquor production at Malabar Distillery in Palakkad will start this year.
Steps will be taken to produce and distribute low-strength alcohol and wine from fruits available in the state. The necessary legislation will be enacted for this. Restaurants operating in places frequented by foreign tourists will be allowed a special license to sell beer, wine etc. only during the tourism season.
At present, 559 foreign liquor retail outlets are permitted in the state but only 309 shops are functioning. Steps will be taken to reopen the closed ones. Amendment of rules for the supply of foreign liquor in IT parks is in progress. Similarly, rules will be framed in consultation with the Industries Department to grant licenses to IT-like industrial parks and certain eligible premises for serving liquor.
The bar license fee will be increased from Rs.30,00,000 to Rs.35,00,000. The license fee for serving liquor in clubs for sea-men and marine officers (FL-4) will be increased from Rs.50,000 to Rs.2,00,000.