Kerala ends jail term for not displaying alcohol statutory warning in films; five-fold hike in fine

Thiruvananthapuram: Imprisonment for violating the law related to advertising or promotion of alcohol will soon go away in Kerala. The Abkari Act amendment was introduced in the Assembly as per which, such acts will only attract fines. Excise minister MB Rajesh introduced this amendment and it was referred to the select committee after discussion.

Until now, if the statutory warning, ‘Alcohol consumption is injurious to health’, was not displayed in film scenes where liquor or its consumption was shown, the punishment was an imprisonment for six months and a fine amounting to Rs 10,000. This has now been amended to waive the prison sentence. However, the fine has been increased to Rs 50,000.

Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan accused the government of promoting alcohol whilst promising an abstinence policy. Pointing out that the liquor policy is silent about the toddy board, CPI’s P Balachandran said that the government could also generate revenue by reorganising toddy and linking it with the tourism industry. 

Over 29,428 conditions have been decriminalised across the country to ease commerce and business. Toddy shops are planned to be renovated to become more family-friendly, said minister Rajesh. He also informed the Assembly that the toddy board will be formed soon.

The minister also attempted to bust the campaign that liquor was one of the major sources of income for Kerala. Excise revenue declined from 18.12% in 2011-12 to 14.5% in 2016-17. Kerala has only one liquor store per 100,000 people while Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have almost twice this number, he said, adding that the campaign against Kerala was organised by Sangh Parivar.