Contains 8.1% alcohol, beer has 6% only
Toddy is more alcoholic than beer. (Photo: DC/File)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Any move to ban beer in the state may become suicidal for the toddy sector as toddy is more alcoholic than beer. This seems to be the biggest dilemma for the government in imposing any curbs on beer, despite strong demand from various quarters.
“If the government imposes any restrictions on beer citing its alcohol content, but spares toddy and wine, anyone can easily approach the court and challenge the decision as toddy and wine contain more alcohol than beer. The only option will be to either allow beer, toddy and wine or ban them all. However, banning toddy which is considered to be a traditional drink, could trigger serious objections,” excise department sources said.
While the maximum permissible alcohol content in beer is six percent volume-by-volume (v/v unit), for toddy it can go up to 8.1 percent v/v. Wine could also have up to 15.5 percent v/v alcohol content. Hence, if any restriction is imposed on beer, it will have its repercussions on toddy, as well as wine.
The state government’s current decision to limit prohibition only to the hard liquor and spare beer has triggered differences within the ruling front itself. While a section, including KPCC president V.M.
Sudheeran, is strongly demanding a ban on beer and wine also, many UDF leaders, including government chief whip P.C. George, have openly called for opening more beer parlours in the state.
The government is, however, maintaining a calculated silence on the matter as any restriction on beer could hit toddy sector too, highly placed sources said.
Ever since the UDF government announced its new liquor policy of bringing down hard liquor sale in the state, the 5,000-odd toddy shops are getting spruced up expecting better days ahead.
( Source : dc )
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