Bar owners in Kerala unhappy over recurrent fund collections

Thiruvananthapuram: The bar owners in the state have expressed dissatisfaction in the fund collection drive that began since Nava Kerala Sadas programme. 

Initially, excise officials collected Rs 25,000 from each bar for the Nava Kerala Sadas. Later, additional funds were solicited for the election fund of the bar association, followed by a demand of Rs 1 lakh from political parties.

Now, a new fundraiser has been initiated to support the liquor policy. Despite previous contributions to election funds, there are now disputes within the committee regarding donations for the liquor policy.

1 lakh was demanded for the construction of the headquarters. But apart from this, a total of Rs 5 lakhs were collected from them in six months, which is not shown in any books and is being denied by the officials. 

There are allegations of threatening people who were unwilling to pay. A hotel owner has accused a CPM leader of threatening him on the matter.

Excise has loopholes to register cases against the bars for after-hour sales, inventory, etc. if they don't stand by the committee’s decisions. 

New beverage shops, despite being given permission to open, have not yet started functioning due to lack of building. If the bar owners oppose the committee decisions or the ruling party, a new outlet will start operating near the bar, affecting their sales. Due to these issues, the bar owners are in a state of panic.