KOCHI: The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) has expressed apprehension over what the church sees as an attempt by the state government to sabotage the liquor policy of the previous government. The retracing of the liquor policy will have disastrous consequences for the state, the council said. In a circular read out in Catholic churches on Sunday as part of observing ‘Anti-liquor Sunday’ KCBC has pointed out that efforts are on to prove that prohibition has been a failure. The circular also stated that a sustained campaign is also on to project that the partial restrictions imposed on retailing of liquor in the state have failed.
The KCBC has been in the forefront of anti-liquor campaign in the state for the past few years. The powerful catholic clergy is also having a separate council for the prohibition of liquor in the state. The LDF government, opposed to total prohibition, is expected to announce its new liquor policy by next month. There have been reports about the government providing permission for opening new bars at select places in the name of promoting tourism.
