The Kerala state government is set to implement a new liquor policy by mid-August, retaining the dry day on the first day of every month. Despite suggestions that removing the dry day could benefit the tourism sector and increase revenue from an additional 12 working days, the government has chosen to maintain it. The policy, developed in consultation with various organizations, aims to balance tourism benefits with existing regulations.
Several changes in the policy are designed to benefit bar owners. Discussions with various departments revealed that making alcohol available on the first day of the month could attract meetings of major companies and boost tourism. However, to achieve a balance, the government is considering altering the opening hours of bars instead. The decision on the online sale of premium brand liquor remains pending due to concerns over potential abuse and opposition.
The new policy also highlights the benefits of home delivery, such as reducing congestion at Bevco and Consumerfed retail outlets, creating job opportunities for at least 3,000 people, and increasing sales of premium brands, which would, in turn, boost government revenue. The alcohol sales revenue for 2022-23 was ₹18,530.97 crore, and it is projected to rise to ₹19,088.33 crore in 2023-24, marking an increase of ₹557.36 crore.
