26 foreign liquor outlets shut down in Kerala

Carrying forward the liquor policy announced by the Congress-led UDF government to bring about total prohibition in the next 10 years, another 26 foreign liquor outlets were ordered closed in the state today.
These included 22 outlets run by Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) and four by Consumerfed, an official release said here today.
A total of 13 outlets situated near National Highways were closed down from January 1 this year. KSBC is the sole wholesale and retail supplier of foreign liquor in the state.
As part of the policy 2014-15 announced last year, government had decided to shut down 10 per cent of its total outlets every year to wipe out all the retail outlets by 10 years.

Last year also 39 outlets were closed down as part of the policy.
More than 700 hotels below five star category serving foreign liquor had also been closed down. With the new policy, only five star hotels in Kerala can operate bars supplying foreign liquor.