Kerala - Kochi   

IMFL outlets to be reduced gradually

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, FEB. 21. The Government is planning to gradually cut down the number of foreign liquor outlets in the State. This move, according to the Minister for Excise, K.V. Thomas, is being made to make available unadulterated toddy throughout the State.

Talking to newspersons here today, Mr. Thomas said that thrust was being given to selling unadulterated toddy. Anyone found selling adulterated toddy would invite stringent action from the Government, he said.

At the same time, he said, the Government would launch a massive anti-liquor awareness campaign for the youth on March 30.

As part of reducing foreign liquor outlets, he said, bar-attached hotels with two-star facilities will be asked to get two-star classification within six months. They would not be permitted to sell liquor if they failed to meet the classification, he said.

He said inspection of bars and liquor outlets by the police and excise officers will be made more transparent. Transfers and new postings in the Excise Department will also be made transparent, he said.

Mr. Thomas said the Excise Department could not be rid of corruption in a single day. He said the flow of liquor from other States to Kerala should be checked. As a first step, the prices of some brands would be slashed to that of the neighbouring States.

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