Kerala's contentious liquor policy put on hold, cabinet skips discussion

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s new liquor policy for the financial year 2025-2026 has been delayed as the state cabinet failed to reach a decision on key issues. The much-anticipated liquor policy was scheduled for discussion at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting but was postponed without a final verdict.

Two major points remain under debate, causing the delay. One of these is the proposed removal of the dry day. The policy initially recommended eliminating dry days only in tourism areas. However, there was confusion over how to implement this change. The cabinet ultimately decided that the matter requires more clarity before a final decision is made.

Another contentious issue is the distance limit for toddy shops. Several unions have called for a relaxation of the current distance regulations to allow the establishment of new toddy shops. The cabinet meeting did not come to a conclusion on this demand either, with officials agreeing that more discussions are needed before making a decision.

The matter of licensing liquor manufacturing companies was also not addressed during the meeting.