Church warns against attempts to subvert liquor policy
- The Left Democratic Front (LDF) had always held prohibition as impractical.
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The Catholic church has expressed grave concern over the left government's alleged attempts to reverse the liquor policy of the previous Congress government which envisaged prohibition in a phased manner.
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There is deliberate attempt to prove that the liquor policy of the Congress-led UDF government as a complete failure, a circular issued by the Prohibition Council of Kerala Catholic Bishop's Council stated. Attempts are being made to subvert the liquor policy. The circular was read out in Syro-Malabar, Latin and Malankara Catholic churches across the state on Sunday.
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'A reversal of the liquor policy would spell doom for the state and its future generations," the circular prepared by the KCBC Prohibition Council read. We should not be passive in our fight against liquor and drugs. We should not stand idle when the whole generation stares at disaster, it urged the believers.
We should not stand idle when the whole generation stares at disaster
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The circular also criticised the LDF for giving more importance to abstinence. "Abstinence is an individual choice and decision. It cannot replace a policy (of government)," the KCBC opined.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) had always held prohibition as impractical. It also proposed abstinence as an effective alternative to checking alcohol abuse.
The previous UDF government had closed down over 700 bars as part of its liquor policy, and only five-star category bars are allowed to sell foreign liquor in the state. Its liquor policy of also envisaged to make the state liquor free by 2023.
Just after coming to power in Kerala in 2016 May, the LDF government hinted at a policy change as it felt restrictions on consumption of liquor had not yielded 'desired positive impact.' It also announced that it would undertake a scientific study on the social, economic and health problems arising from the consumption of liquor and widespread availability of substances.
