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Journalism of Courage
The Oommen Chandy Cabinet today liberalised the abkari policy, lifting the ban on sale of liquor and toddy on the first day of every month. The policy had been recommended by Chandy himself when he was convenor of the UDF liaison committee.
The state has also dispensed with the slab system for bar licence fees by fixing a uniform fee of Rs 18 lakh for each bar licence. To mop up revenue, though, various licence fees have been increased up to 10 times and fines up to 20 times. The Excise Department has also decided to introduce tinned toddy in the market.
The restrictions on issuing fresh bar licences have been relaxed by extending bar licences to two-star hotels and restaurants approved by the Tourism Department. Luxury boats, with an investment of more than Rs 1 crore, have been made eligible for beer and wine licence and those with investment above above Rs 5 crore have been made eligible for bar licence. The fee for serving liquor at restaurants has been reduced to Rs 10,000.
