Thiruvananthapuram: The state cabinet has approved setting up pubs and wine parlours in IT parks across the state. The new liquor policy for the financial year 2022-23 also aims to increase the number of retail outlets in the state. 

BEVCO and Consumerfed outlets will be started in those areas which are safely away from populated and residential areas. 

The demand for allowing pubs in the IT sector has been a subject of debate for some time. The IT sector in the state was demanding to change its policy on the matter. It is learned that the pubs will have facilities of five-star luxury hotels. 

Permission to produce liquor with low alcoholic content or wine from the cashew apple, pineapple, jackfruit and nutmeg will be granted and facilities to buy foreign liquor from the outlets without queues will be introduced in the state.

The decision to increase the production of liquor in the existing units and launch new units has been taken to address the issues in the production of Indian-made foreign liquor and beer. The government claimed that it would expand the job opportunities in the state.

Measures to escalate the production of Jawan rum of Travancore Sugars and start manufacturing at the Malabar distillery will be taken soon.

Other guidelines

  •     Brand registration fees for liquor selling in cans and glass bottles will not be hiked
  •     Liquor would not be allowed to sell in plastic bottles from 2023-24
  •     The closed outlets will be reopened as premium shops to reduce the rush in existing outlets
  •     More vehicles and 100 pistols will be delivered to the excise circle offices of eight taluks
  •     Bar licences will be granted only to at least three-star hotels
  •     Kerala Toddy Industry Development Board will start functioning. The licensees can operate the toddy shops in 2022-23 as the board is not in action currently
  •     Track and trace systems will be introduced to surveil the production of liquor and inter-district/intra-range transport
  •     Beverages corporation will launch liquor-related industries in the state
  •     All services provided by the Excise department will be made available online from April 1
  •     Computerisation of foreign liquor outlets
  •     Mobile app titled ‘Peoples Eye’ to lodge complaints about the trade, stocking and consumption of illicit liquor
  •     Increase the posts of women civil excise officers
  •     Appoint 100 youth from scheduled tribes as civil excise officers