Beer, wine parlours under Excise scanner

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Many beer and wine parlours in the state are under the excise department scanner following suspicion of illegal supply of liquor. According to department sources, the enforcement officials have been directed to conduct frequent surprise checks in beer and wine parlours, especially those which were earlier functioning as bars.

“There is a strong suspicion that some of the bars that were converted to beer parlours are still supplying liquor. Hence, we are maintaining a strict vigil on many such beer parlours, especially during the coming Onam season,” said additional excise commissioner (enforcement) K. Radhakrishnanan.

As part of state government’s liquor policy, licences of all bars were cancelled and they were given licences to run beer and wine parlours.

At present, there are about 770 beer and wine parlours in the state. Excise department sources said that there has been considerable fall in the number of customers and revenue of many bars that were forced become  beer and wine parlours.

This could have prompted many beer and wine parlours to illegally offer liquor to retain the customer base as well as shore up revenues.

The practice of persons hiring rooms in hotels with beer and wine parlours and consuming alcohol would also come under the excise scanner.

“It is not illegal for persons booking a room and consuming alcohol. However, in case a person checks in at a hotel room and supplies liquor to those other than the guests enrolled in the particular hotel’s register, we could consider it as an illegal supply of liquor and initiate action,” said additional excise commissioner.