Police have begun enforcing the liquor ban across Kerala in the wake of the state high court ratifying the state government's new liquor policy.
Excise officials have been asked to verify bars and take stock of liquor content at these venues before enforcing the ban.
"As per the directions of the Deputy Commissioner of Excise Thiruvananthapuram, we have reached out for the verification of liquor stock and will seal the room in which the liquor will be stored. That is the procedure," said an excise officer, V.K. Anil Kumar.
Meanwhile, the 300 bars which cannot sell IMFL can continue to operate as beer parlours.
It is being assumed that Kerala, which has the country's highest alcohol consumption per capita, will become alcohol-free within ten years, but the ban has left many asking why it was necessary.
"The government's decision on banning liquor in bars is not correct because most of the people in Kerala have a drinking habit. Alcohol is served in most of the five-star hotels now, but the lower strata of the people have been consuming it in bars. So, it is an injustice," said an employee working at a bar in the city, Rajendran.
Though hundreds of bars will close, government-run liquor stores will be phased out more gradually over the next decade.
Last year, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the state government was in favour of total prohibition. From April, only five-star hotels will be granted bar licences.
