No decision yet on low-alcohol beverages, says Liju

Defending the Budget connection to slash taxes connected low-alcohol beverages, Excise Minister M. Liju said the authorities had not taken immoderate determination connected introducing low-alcohol beverages successful the State and that the determination announced successful the Budget was lone a fiscal determination relating to taxation.

He said it was the erstwhile LDF authorities that had amended the Abkari Act successful 2023 to make a abstracted class for low-alcohol beverages with intoxicant contented ranging from 0.5% to 20% and had introduced different amendment successful 2025.

“The precise leaders of the LDF who brought successful these provisions are present criticising the move. What is the logic down it,” Mr. Liju asked mediapersons here. The Minister said nary argumentation determination had been announced by the Excise section and that elaborate discussions connected the State’s liquor argumentation would beryllium held aft the Assembly session.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala besides defended the move, saying nary caller bars had been permitted since the UDF assumed bureau and maintained that its argumentation was aimed astatine gradually reducing intoxicant depletion and availability successful the State. “No 1 should question our sincerity connected this issue. We person a wide policy,” helium told reporters successful Kozhikode.

Meanwhile, Thamarassery Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil besides criticised the government’s decision, saying it sent a incorrect connection to nine and urged the authorities to retreat the proposal.