Politics · India · 4 hrs ago
Keralam halts new liquor licences until 2026-27 policy is announced
Keralam’s Excise department has paused new liquor licences until the state government sets its alcohol policy for the 2026-27 financial year.
The ban covers bars and wine and beer parlours seeking permission to sell spirits.
The government plans to announce its policy on November 30, and 29 applications from four-star hotels are on hold.
The pause follows a political dispute over licences granted before the government had settled its policy, including permits for lounge bars at Cochin International Airport that were later cancelled.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Excise Minister M. Liju said the department acted without the government’s approval, while a former minister disputed the criticism.
The dispute has raised concerns about who should approve licences and about opposition from social organisations that support prohibition.
New applications remain on hold until the policy is announced.
Keralam’s Excise department has stopped issuing new liquor licences until the government announces its alcohol policy for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The halt covers bar licences and permits for wine and beer parlours to sell spirits.
The policy is due to be promulgated on November 30, according to The Hindu.
The order follows a political dispute over recent licence approvals and the department’s handling of them.
The department said 29 applications from four-star hotels had been put on hold.
- Who
- Keralam’s Excise department, acting through Additional Excise Commissioner R Jayasankar.
- What
- It has halted new liquor licences, including bar licences and permits for wine and beer parlours to sell spirits, until the government’s alcohol policy is promulgated.
- When
- The halt applies until November 30, when the 2026-27 policy is due to be promulgated.
- Where
- Keralam.
- Why
- The government is yet to finalise its liquor policy, and recent licence approvals prompted a political dispute.
UDF government
LDF representatives
Authority to issue licences
UDF government
Excise Minister M. Liju signalled that the government would reverse the previous decision to let Deputy Commissioners grant licences without ministerial sanction.
LDF representatives
Former Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh said the Oommen Chandy government had empowered Deputy Excise Commissioners and that the LDF had not issued a bar licence without ministerial consent.
The Excise department reclassified some bars and beer parlours and approved licences for lounge bars at Cochin International Airport Limited.
The government cancelled renewed licences, including those for the airport lounge bars, and shifted Excise Commissioner Sreeram Samabasiva Rao from his post.
The Excise department barred Deputy Commissioners from issuing new liquor licences until the 2026-27 policy is promulgated.
The government is due to promulgate its alcohol policy for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
- Policy year
- 2026-27
- Policy date
- November 30
- Applications on hold
- 29 bar licence applications from four-star hotels
- Airport
- Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)
- Order issued by
- R Jayasankar, Additional Excise Commissioner (Enforcement)
What people are saying
hasty
jumping the gun