Kerala is on its way to becoming a dry state! In a recent meeting the authorities of the state have decided to enforce a total prohibition in the next 10 years. They have outlined plans to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol and tackle with the state’s drinking problem.

To begin with, some 700 bars and shops selling liquor will be banned, along with introduction of more alcohol free days.

In the previous census the state was declared to have the highest per capita alcohol consumption at more than eight litres per person yearly. It has been a constant worry of the doctors and activists who claim alcohol abuse to be one of the primary reasons of road accidents and marital breakdowns. Also, hospitals and rehab centres are packed with patients suffering from alcohol related diseases.

Chief Minister Oomnen Chandy said that the government plans to make Kerala a liquor free state with a series of proposed measures:

• No renewal of licences for the 418 bars that remains closed now
• With effect from April 2015, the existing 318 bars will not get their licence renewed
• Only the five-star hotels will be allowed to run bars
• 10% of beverage corporation outlets will phase out every year so that in the next 10 years they will all be shut down
• Bars and all alcohol outlets will remain shut on Sundays and first day of every month

Many businesses are worried that the proposed ban may hit tourism in the state. Kerala is a state that attracts highest number of tourists in India, both domestic and from abroad. Neither is it clear as to how the government plans to recover the loss that would be incurred due to the ban. Alcohol industry is a Rs. 8000 crore industry that is more than one third of the state government’s annual plan outlay.