The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday approved the State’s liquor policy for 2023-24, increasing the bar licence fee from ₹30 lakh to ₹35 lakh and liberalising the policy for restaurants located within tourism zones.
The policy also envisages modernisation of toddy shops, stepping up production of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) within the State and amendment of laws to promote the export of IMFL manufactured within the State. The relaxations that might spur an increase in liquor availability could lead to some level of protests from religious groups as well as Opposition parties.
Announcing the finer details of the policy at a press conference here on Wednesday, Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh said that the toddy produced in Kerala would be branded as ‘Kerala toddy’ and marketed as Kerala’s traditional, natural beverage.