Excise department's rapid bar licence approvals trouble UDF government
The Congress-led government faces criticism over the reclassification of wine and beer parlours as bars under previous rules.
The Kerala Excise Department's rapid reclassification of wine and beer parlours into bars has created difficulties for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government, according to The Hindu.
The approvals, which included lounge bar licences at the Cochin International Airport (CIAL), were based on regulations established by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. This occurred while the cabinet was developing the state's liquor policy for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Excise Minister M. Liju told The Hindu that the department's order did not surprise the government. He stated that there was no mechanism to automatically send such major decisions to the Minister and claimed the LDF had removed checks and balances by allowing Deputy Commissioners to grant FL-3 (Bar) licences.
Liju noted that while officials followed existing rules, the administration should have consulted him. He added that an investigation is underway regarding how licences for bars that had been defunct for 12 years were renewed.
CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan said it was unlikely that the Minister was unaware of the consecutive licence grants. Former Excise Minister and CPI(M) State Secretariat member M.B.
Rajesh accused Liju of scapegoating officials and failing to stop new licences until the liquor policy was finalised.
Rajesh also claimed the Minister has not yet fulfilled a promise to cancel licences for bars that served liquor to a teenager involved in a fatal drunken driving accident in Nedumbassery.