Kerala government weighs political risks of reducing drought dates in 2025-26 fiscal liquor policy

Kerala Beverage Company (BEVCO) export store in File Image | Image source: Thulasi Kakkat

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala appears to have taken a rope between the demands of the hospitality industry and the political risks of demolishing churches and Muslim social organizations, such as the first menstrual drought days, while finalizing the alcohol policy for fiscal 2025-26.

The government realized that alcohol policy is a political and socially sensitive topic, often a feature of Kerala’s twitch-promoting litigation campaign, so the government decided on Wednesday (April 9, 2025) to reduce the number of drought days in the state this fiscal year.

Senior officials told Hindu Intelligence reports suggest that the bar association and hotel owner association are raising funds from their members to develop a more relaxed alcohol policy, which has also led the government to decide to cut drought days in 2025 for the drought days in local human elections to seize politically unfavorable corruption disputes.

Alcohol sales will not decline

Furthermore, officials said that despite the relatively high dry days in Kerala, the government has not declined despite the fact that liquor sales have not fallen.

But restricting alcohol hoards on drought becomes illegal retail, and fake wine entering the black market may remain a serious consumer-style law enforcement challenge.

The government also seems to be eager to not inspire anti-policy moderation campaigns supported by churches and Muslim social organizations before the 2026 parliamentary elections.

Balanced behavior

However, the government is trying to balance the demand for tourism by allowing four- and five-star hotels to provide alcohol at events, including conferences, conferences and exhibitions on drought days.

However, the agency must seek a one-day license at the designated point. Drinking in bars or rooms is prohibited by temporary permission.

The government has also decided not to reduce the mandatory 400m alcohol channels, the minimum distance between educational institutions and religious places of worship.

Cruise Permit

The new alcohol policy allows luxury cruise ships, such as Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Company (KSINC) Neferritti, operated in Kochi, to provide visitors with alcohol during leisure travel.

The government reiterated its earlier decision to allow legal alcohol in legal IT parks to alleviate long-standing complaints from the software industry that the lack of highly inspired social venues has made Kerala a disappointing job destination for technicians.

But the facility operates like a highly restrictive private member club, with the licensee being the CEO of IT companies limited to IT Park employees, which reportedly weakened the program. The bar hall also opposes the government from operating clubs inside IT parks, fearing losing business.

Tody Department Promotion

The new alcohol policy also facilitated the Tody department. The government has reportedly allowed the private sector to bottle and export todi. It also reportedly increased the number of Tody that the leader could legally extract from the palm of the coconut.

It also reiterates that, despite the needs of certain social groups, dry days will not apply to Tody Stores.

Although the associations of Toddy Tappers, especially those associated with the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), have raised concerns, the government allows wine and low-volume wine from local agricultural products, including cereals and fruits. AITUC expressed concerns that the increase in breweries and breweries could have a negative impact on the Todi sector in Kerala.

Breweries and breweries

Officials say the number of fishing people in the wineries and wineries is limited. The government has approved the brewery license to a private player in the Casaragod region and Kerala Agricultural University in Thrissur district.