THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF stood by its election manifesto of bringing a liquor policy which would lay emphasis on temperance rather than total prohibition. The government is of the view that prohibition policy has not succeeded in any part of the world. The UDF government's phased prohibition policy, according to LDF, was an outcome of the internal tussle between the then KPCC president V M Sudheeran and chief minister Oommen Chandy and not with the idea of bringing down sale and consumption of liquor in the state. In its election manifesto and throughout the campaign, the LDF maintained that if elected to power it would alter the UDF policy. The UDF had also campaigned hard on its liquor policy hoping to receive the support of various sections of society especially women.
However, after securing a massive mandate in the polls the LDF got the required people's nod to make drastic changes in liquor policy. But even while announcing the liquor policy, the government has been cautious on the issue of reopening all shut bars including one star and two star. "We don't want liquor to flow all over the state. We will strictly comply with the Supreme Court verdict related to highways and state highways," the chief minster said. Despite the changes made in the policy, the government is not expecting reopening of large number of liquor shops especially the shut ones. Of the 30 hotels having F 3 license seven are lying shut, of the 306 Consumerfed and KSBC outlets 96 are closed, of the 815 bar and wine outlets having F1 license 474 are closed and 922 toddy shops are lying shut. More than 40,000 workers were employed in these establishments. The government is focussing more on rehabilitation of the workers who had lost means of livelihood.
According to chief minister said the number would not be the same as when these were shut down. Because of Supreme Court directive and other restrictions, the number would come down. "We have the experience of UDF government's phased prohibition policy before us. It had led to alarming increase in the use of drugs and narcotics substances. Alcoholics were going to any extent to procure drugs and narcotics after the UDF policy came into being and situation in society had reached dangerous proportions," he said. The chief minister said the government's focus was on temperance and awareness. The Vimukti programme for awareness against drugs and substance abuse will be strengthened. Proper treatment facilities will be put in place for alcoholics.
All these steps are being taken by the government foreseeing protests from different quarters against its policy. The government has plans to coordinate the activities related to temperance on the one hand and anti drug awareness on the other. The health and excise departments will open de-addiction centres in all districts. Existing ones will be strengthened and more facilities will be added. Along with rehabilitation of those addicted to liquor, model specialty de addiction centre will be opened to provide the best of treatment facilities. Another significant thing about the policy is that the government has not decided to open more bevereages corporation liquor outlets.
However, many have expressed surprise over the decision to raise the lower age limit of buying liquor from 21 to23. They fear the decision might create a situation where the young people might be forced to go for substance abuse. Since the liquor policy is gong to come into effect only from July 1, there is enough time for the government to gauge the mood of various sections and the public at large. Similarly, the anti liquor front organisations too have time to organise protests against the policy. The government would be keenly watching the response to the protest campaigns being launched by anti liquor front organisations in the coming days. While it is not clear at the moment whether the government would make changes in the policy, it could be open to discussions with those on the other side of the divide.
