3 months ago
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The Kerala authorities has issued an bid extending the operating hours of bars and brew and vino parlours by 2 hours. With this, the bars and brew parlours volition beryllium capable to relation from 10 a.m. to midnight successful the State.
In addition, the authorities has decided to assistance support to FL3 licensed barroom hotels having 5-star classification and supra to relation till 3 a.m., allowing an further 3 hours aft the permissible closing time, connected outgo of an yearly rental of ₹5 lakh.
As per the order, which was issued connected Tuesday (February 17, 2026) arsenic an bonzer gazette, the changes person been made successful the involvement of promoting Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, destination wedding, planetary league and different conferences. For the supra purpose, the Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953 needs to beryllium amended suitably. The barroom owners person been for a agelong clip demanding for hold of operarating hours.
Move sparks row
The announcement, which came up of the Assembly elections, kicked up a controversy.
Demanding the authorities to retreat the argumentation change, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council has asked whether the wide attack successful the latest bid is “part of an predetermination deal.”
"Those who adopted the argumentation of appeasing the Abkari without consulting the beforehand oregon adjacent the Cabinet would bash good to retrieve the Bible verse that says, ‘Alcohol bites similar a serpent and stings similar a viper’," said the KCBC successful a property release.
The KCBC said the authorities should not effort to grow the merchantability of intoxicant nether the guise of tourism. “Tourists travel to Kerala not to portion the section brandy. They travel to savour the quality of nature. The fig of tourists has decreased not due to the fact that of the deficiency of availability of alcohol, but due to the fact that of the fearfulness of cause users, drunkards, stray dogs and chaotic animals,” it said.
Catholic Church to observe Anti-Alcohol Sunday
The Kerala Catholic Church volition observe Anti-Alcohol Sunday connected March 8. The Church's circular volition beryllium work successful churches of the Syro-Malabar-Latin-Malankara Rites and the observance volition beryllium celebrated with assorted programmes.
