Kerala government’s liquor policy doesn’t go down well in state

Then how can it take such a step ?” Father Eugene asked. Prostitution was already common in tourist spots and the trend would only increase with the new liquor policy, he said.P J Varghese, organising secretary of Tourist Desk, Kochi, was of the view that the root cause of the problem was the “distorted outlook” on tourism. “I discussed this issue with several foreign tourists. None of them said liquor was a requirement to come to Kerala,” he said. According to him, such controversies would only create doubts in the minds of the locals about tourists and thereby cause them to turn against tourism itself.

Eminent environmentalist and social activist A Achuthan of Kozhikode laughs at the idea that more bars and parlours will contribute to more tourism. “I hope they don’t seriously believe that tourism is a natural corollary to alcoholism. How many of the largely middle class tourists who come here would want to spend theirlimited time and money on hitting the bottle instead of seeing and enjoying the place ?” he asked.

But Achuthan felt that one bright spot in the move was that it might actually bring down the volume of illicit liquor in circulation. He was also highly critical of the many anti-liquor organisations which failed to realise that drugs were a far bigger threat.

Ajith Venniyoor, office-bearer of the Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, pointed out that the government could `interpret’ any place as a `tourism centre’ and open bars and beer parlours there. “Though beer parlours are usually opened in the name of tourism, the fact remains that not many tourists visit them. On the contrary, it would be the locals and students who frequent bars and beer parlours,” he said.

According to Ajith, the government itself insists that beer “is not hard liquor”. In a sense, this is akin to luring the new generation to liquor. “Further, there is no guarantee that hard liquor will not be served in beer parlours. In many toddy shops,arrack is being served to customers,” he added.

Meanwhile, Christian Life Communities’ Ernakulam archdiocesan council promoter Fr Jose Vailikodath has demanded the immediate repeal of the new policy. The State Committee of Kerala Catholic Youth Movement has raised a similar demand. Maxwell V Noronha, Bishop of Kozhikode, feels it is far-fetched to say that having a lot of bars would mean more tourists flocking to the State. “I don’t know how many tourists would actually prefer drinking our liquor to being provided the facilities and amenities to see and understand our state,” he said. “I have not fully understood why the decision was taken, but its impact will be definitely negative,” the Bishop added.

As for Sugathakumari’s reported statement about the possibility of Malayali girls turning to booze and in turn to prostitution if more beer parlours are sanctioned, Bishop Noronha felt this would depend on the specific local cultures and attitudes state-wide.