Kochi: In a historic first, a large shipment of Indian-made foreign liquor and beer from Kerala arrived in Lakshadweep on Monday.

The shipment, totaling 267 cases from the Kerala State Beverages Corporation, reached Bangaram Island via Kochi, with beer making up 80 percent of the total cargo. This marks the first time such a substantial quantity of liquor has been sent to Lakshadweep through the state-run Beverages Corporation.

Earlier, the Corporation received government approval to import Indian-made foreign liquor, beer, and foreign-made foreign liquor to Lakshadweep. The approval was granted following a request from the Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS), the tourism body managing various initiatives under the Lakshadweep administration.

The shipment included 215 cases of beer, 39 cases of foreign liquor, and 13 cases of Indian-made foreign liquor. However, the liquor will only be distributed on Bangaram Island, which is exclusively designated for tourism, while other islands will remain dry.

Bangaram Island, located near Agatti Island, consists of cottages and huts for tourists. The island predominantly attracts foreign tourists.

The liquor shipment is a one-time permission granted by the government. The excise commissioner issued a special order permitting the transport of the liquor. The Beverages Corporation earned ₹21 lakh from the sale.