Sudheeran slams liquor policy move

Sudheeran said he was surprised to learn about the changes in the new policy.

A day after Congress-led UDF government diluted its three-month-old new liquor policy, party state president V M Sudheeran said the government had succumbed to the pressure of the liquor lobby.

Sudheeran, who was on a tour of north Kerala when the decision was announced Thursday, said he was surprised to learn about the changes in the new policy.

He said the government decision was against the intention of the people. The interest of the liquor lobby was foisted upon the people. The party would fight against it, he said.

It was Sudheeran’s adamant stand against renewing the licence of 418 bars, which had been once identified as unhygienic, that finally culminated in the government declaring closure of all bars and prohibition in a decade.

He said the decision to allow beer and wine parlours for the closed bars would only make the younger generation liquor addicts. “The party wanted to bring down the consumption of liquor and also its availability step by step. The decision to allow more beer parlours is a crime towards the next generation.”

He also rejected Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s claim that loss of job of bar workers was a reason for reviewing the liquor policy.
Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League has also spoken against the changes in the liquor policy. In fact, the Cabinet has gone for the changes overruling the opposition from IUML ministers.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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