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Cheers as 77 bars open for business in Kerala

There were 23 five-star hotels serving liquor in the state and hence the total number of bars went up to 100.

Thiruvananthapuram: Cheering up tipplers 77 bars reopened on Sunday after a gap of about three years with the LDF government’s liquor policy of allowing bars at three-star and four-star hotels, apart from five-star, coming into force.

There were 23 five-star hotels serving liquor in the state and hence the total number of bars went up to 100.

More applications from three and four-star hotels for permits are under process, and hence the figures may soon touch 150.

Though the policy came to effect from July 1, the bars started functioning only from July 2 as the first day of every month is a dry day.

A festive mood prevailed at most of the bars on Sunday with tipplers arriving in groups even from distant locations. Many were decorated and even organised cultural programmes to mark their rebirth.

“It is indeed a relief for ordinary people like me who occasionally drink as we are spared from the difficulty of arranging venue and side dishes. We people could not afford five-star bars,” said Velayudhan Pillai, a junior superintendent at a government establishment.

Bartenders were also happy as their incomes were badly hit following their closure. Hundreds of workers had even lost jobs.

The warehouses of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation witnessed a rush over the last two days for taking stock. Some bars in Ernakulam and here could not start functioning by 11 am due to delay in getting stock.

As per the new liquor policy, their regular working time is from 11 am to 11 pm. In tourist centres, it is 10 am to 11 p.m.

Owing to the increase in liquor price as well as the licence fee, all bar owners also made about ten to 20 percent increase in peg rate compared to the 2014 prices, industry sources said.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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