As usual, Kerala 'betters' its liquor consumption record this Onam
- Sales at Beverages Corporation outlets recorded an increase of 16% this Onam season.
- Alcohol sales touched ₹409.55 crore in eight days during the festival season.
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Malayalees celebrated Onam, their national festival on Wednesday, with traditional fervour. As usual, they also kept the 'custom' of renewing record in alcohol consumption every festival season. Liquor sales of the state-run Beverages Corporation (Bevco) recorded an increase of 16% when compared to the Onam days last year.
In eight days before ‘Thiruvonam’ on Wednesday, Bevco sold liquor worth ₹409.55 crore as against ₹353.08 crore last year in the week ahead of Onam. A local Bevco outlet at Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur recorded sales of over ₹53.85 lakh on Onam Eve.
The record in sales shows that Malayalees continue to push consumption to new heights despite a liquor policy aiming at reducing the availability of alcoholic beverages. It may be recalled that the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala had introduced a policy to discourage alcohol consumption and reduce availability by shutting down more than 7,00 liquor bars in the state two years back. It also envisaged prohibition in a phased manner. The policy whipped up a political controversy and was one of the major poll debates during the Assembly elections this year.
The Left government that assumed power in May 2016 is planning to revise the liquor policy. Instead of prohibition, the ruling Left Democratic Front prescribes abstinence as the best way to tackle the alcohol menace. But it appears that Keralites are not ready yet to take that bitter pill as well.
