Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala may reconsider the existing midnight operating hours for bars as the state government begins discussions on its new liquor policy. The decision to allow bars to remain open until midnight, introduced shortly before the Assembly elections, is now facing renewed scrutiny amid demands from various groups to reduce operating hours.
The demand for shorter bar timings was initially raised by prohibition committee activists, who have urged the government to review the current system. Trade unions, including CITU and AITUC, have also called for bars to be permitted to operate only between 10 am and 10 pm. The issue is expected to form part of the broader discussions surrounding Kerala’s upcoming liquor policy.
The UDF, which had previously criticised the increase in the number of bars while in opposition, is also unlikely to encourage a further expansion of bar licences. Meanwhile, applications from 26 five-star hotels seeking new bar licences are currently awaiting a decision. The Excise Department has not processed the applications as the state’s new liquor policy has yet to be finalised.
Kerala Excise Minister M. Liju had planned consultations with former Excise ministers as part of the process of preparing the new policy. A meeting scheduled for Monday, however, could not take place because several former ministers were unavailable. M.V. Govindan, T.P. Ramakrishnan and M.B. Rajesh were unable to travel to Thiruvananthapuram due to party-related commitments, while former minister K. Babu could not attend because of health-related reasons.
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The proposed review of Kerala bar operating hours comes as the government weighs different views on liquor regulation, bar licences and the functioning of the state’s alcohol sector. The final decision on operating timings and new licence applications will depend on the outcome of the state’s new liquor policy discussions.
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