Ministers shoot down proposal to sell liquor online in Kerala
- Consumerfed chairman had announced plans to sell liquor online starting this Onam
- Excise Minister said it was merely a proposal
- Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh said online sale cannot be allowed as it is against law
FollowSorry folks, liquor won’t go online in Kerala.
The news of the plan to sell liquor online by Consumerfed must have come as music to the ears of tipplers in the state on Thursday. But much to the dismay of drinkers, within hours after the announcement, government corrected the Consumerfed chairman and clarified that online sale of liquor will not be allowed.
Read more: Kerala's Consumerfed to sell liquor online
“There is no proposal to sell liquor online,” AC Moideen, Minister for Cooperatives said. “Even if the Consumerfed officials have any plan, it won't be implemented,” he added.
Excise Minister T P Ramakrishnan also clarified that the government had not taken any decision to sell liquor online.
Consumerfed chairman M Mehboob announced that the federation was planning to launch the online sale of 59 brands of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) starting this Onam.
Excise commissioner Rishiraj Singh also said that online sale of liquor cannot be allowed as it would go against the law. Excise Department is granting permission to use a particular building for the sale of liquor under Abkari Shops (Disposal in Auction) Rules, 2002. This is not possible online. Law also does not permit the sale of liquor to persons below 21 years and this cannot be adhered to in online sales, the commissioner said.
The Congress and the DYFI, the youth wing of the Communist Party of India, had strongly objected to the proposed plan by the Consumerfed for online sale of liquor.
