Onam will be a dry day after-all! Booze lovers in Kerala faced a major disappointment on Thursday as the government after giving high promises of ‘online alcohol’ in morning, withdrew the proposal in evening. Soon after tipplers in Kerala rejoiced the announcement made by Consumerfed chairman M. Mehboob which spoke of plans to start selling Indian made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) online, ahead of Onam in the state, their ‘high spirits’ were dampened by Kerala co-operation minister A. C. Moideen in the evening on a live TV show.
In less than 12 hours the earlier decision was overturned and interestingly the decision was taken to avoid long queues at liquor store and prevent “embarrassment” felt by those seen in the queue. Consumerfed had initially come out with the plan and its managing director M Ramanunny felt that online liquor sale will solve the problem of ‘gentlemen’ having to stand in queues to buy their drink. “There are a lot of people who are embarrassed to be seen queuing up before liquor shops in full public view,” he said.
Kerala incidentally consumes about 14% liquor consumption in the country and because of the previous Congress-UDF government’s “unfriendly” liquor policy this percentage has been on a steady decline. It was the same approach that led to closure of about 730 bars and 370 retail outlets, increasing the queues outside the remaining ones. The policy was criticised by many who also touted the dipping tourism rates in the state a result of the policy.
According to the plan (which didn’t take off) people were supposed to book their favorite brand of alcohol online and approach the Consumerfed outlets with the receipt to pick up their purchase. Criticizing the proposal, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said the initiative would hurt the ‘pride and glory’ of Onam.
