THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Toddy at star hotels, one of the most hyped decisions in the ruling LDF's liquor policy, may take quite some time to materialise as the government is yet to decide on how to implement it. Excise department sources said that the government was yet to decide on how to take this innovative move forward since the amendments of certain rules might be required to implement this. “We are yet to initiate any serious discussions on how to implement the supply of toddy through star hotels. Discussions need to be held with officials and other stakeholders of the industry. It would be rolled out in a phased manner only after piloting in selected places,” sources at the Excise Minister’s office said.
According to the Excise policy, special permissions would be given to hotels in three-star and above category for supplying pure toddy. The decision was hailed by society as it would ensure a better market for toddy and help those in middle and upper classes have toddy without visiting toddy shops, most of which are in unhygienic environs. At present toddy shops are allowed a licence on the basis of a prescribed number of coconut tree or palm trees for tapping. The state was already facing a shortage in toddy. As a result there was widespread adulteration of toddy being supplied through the toddy shops.
Excise department sources said that as per the existing rules, toddy could be supplied only through toddy shops. Hence amendments in Foreign Liquor Rules and Abkari Shops Disposal Rules might be required to enable supply of toddy through star hotels. Meanwhile, Excise department sources also said that though the new liquor policy prescribed some changes in the toddy shop licencing system, it may be implemented only from the next financial year. The liquor policy came into effect on July 1. But all toddy shops licences were issued from April. Hence there would be practical difficulties in implementing the fresh norms in the middle of the financial year. Hence the new norms would be implemented only from next April, said sources.
