No beverage outlet on highways: Kerala High Court

At present, 169 retail liquor shops, owned by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco), are located on the highways

The Kerala High Court on Monday directed  the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco)  to shift all retail liquor shops located on the national and state highways.

A division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation that such shops on the highways make it easy for vehicle drivers to buy liquor and have been a major cause of accidents. The petitioner also said that such Bevco outlets are a hindrance to  vehicular traffic on the highways.

At present 169 retail liquor shops, owned by Bevco are located on the highways.

The division bench also directed the state government to submit a status report in two weeks. The outlets should be re-located to other spots where there is  lesser  traffic. The closure of 418 bars across Kerala  has caused long queues at the Bevco outlets.

Earlier, partially upholding the new Abkari policy of the state government, Kerala high court had directed the closure of bars in the two-star and three-star categories, while it has allowed the operations of five and four-star bars and those falling under the heritage category.

Liquor is now available only in the eight heritage and 33 four-star hotels, besides the 21 five-star hotels in the state. The three and two-star hotels form the majority of the bar restaurants in the state.