The United Democratic Front (UDF) government set to assume power should comprehensively rewrite the State’s anti-people liquor policy along the lines of the model implemented by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, demanded the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council Temperance Commission (KCBC Madhya Virudha Samiti).
The order issued by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to shut down all liquor outlets functioning within a 500-metre radius of educational institutions, places of worship, bus stands, and other public institutions is aimed at public welfare. While liquor shops are being closed in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the caretaker government in Kerala is following a policy that encourages liquor consumption by reducing the price of alcohol, according to a statement issued here by Prasad Kuruvilla, State secretary and spokesperson of KCBC Temperance Commission.
The UDF government led by Oommen Chandy had in 2016 started closing down 10% Bevco and Consumerfed outlets annually as part of enforcing total liquor prohibition gradually. Besides, all bars except 29 were also closed down. The new government should continue in the path of the Oommen Chandy government. Complete prohibition should be implemented in the State within five years, according to the statement.
Prohibition in Kerala will become easier since similar measures have already been implemented in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The new government should completely eradicate the source of deadly narcotic drugs since the younger generation are becoming widely addicted to narcotic substances. Eradication of drugs is possible if the Congress-led neighbouring governments of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala act jointly, said the statement.
The State committee secretariat meeting of the commission will be held under the chairmanship of Bishop Ambrose Puthenveettil on Saturday.
Published – May 13, 2026 05:02 pm IST
