Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government will incorporate suitable provisions in the new liquor policy for enabling the Beverages Corporation (Bevco) to open more liquor outlets in the state.
The Excise Department is in favour of the proposal submitted by Bevco to open 190 new outlets.
The Excise Department is planning to include these suggestions in the new liquor policy and thereby allow Bevco to launch new outlets without causing disturbance to the public.
The new liquor policy will come into effect from April 1, 2022.
Bevco’s proposal
New outlets can be opened in places from where Bevco outlets were shifted after the Supreme Court barred the functioning of liquor shops within 500-meter periphery of the National and State Highways.
It is also suggested that the new Bevco outlets can be opened near the existing outlets in town areas to avoid heavy rush.
The Bevco also proposed that new outlets can be opened in places from where people have to travel more than 20 kms to reach a Bevco outlet now.
In hilly and coastal areas, more outlets can be opened to arrest the sale of spurious liquor and wash. The total new outlets proposed in such areas are 24.
According to Bevco, almost 32 new outlets can be opened in various tourist places.
There is also a proposal to open duty paid retail liquor outlets at the Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery and Karipur international airports.
The plan is also afoot to open 56 new shops in places from where the outlets were shifted to other places after the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The proposal is also made for opening 57 shops in municipal towns to reduce crowding in the existing outlets.
About 18 new outlets are planned in places from where the nearest retail shop is situated more than 20 km away.
The above news was originally posted on www.onmanorama.com
