Thu Apr 10 06:28:39 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Retains Dry Days Despite Tourism Pressure in New Liquor Policy
**Thiruvananthapuram, April 10, 2025** – The Kerala government has announced its liquor policy for 2025-26, maintaining the existing number of dry days despite pressure from the hospitality industry. While acknowledging the industry’s concerns, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government cited intelligence reports indicating lobbying efforts for a more lenient policy, along with the sensitivity of the issue and upcoming elections, as reasons for its decision.
The policy aims for a balance between economic interests and social concerns. To appease the tourism sector, four- and five-star hotels will be allowed to serve liquor at events like conferences and exhibitions, but only with one-day permits and restrictions on serving in bars or rooms. The minimum distance between liquor outlets and other establishments remains at 400 meters.
Luxury cruise ships will be permitted to serve alcohol to tourists, and IT parks will continue to be allowed to have alcohol, though under strict private members’ club regulations. This has been met with some resistance from the IT industry and the bar lobby.
The policy also includes measures to support the toddy sector, allowing private bottling and export, and increasing the permitted tapping quantity. Despite concerns from toddy tappers’ associations about competition from wineries and breweries, the government has issued permits for a few new wineries. The policy will maintain the exclusion of toddy shops from dry days.
First Piper 