Special drive to curb flow of spurious booze ahead of festivals

The Supreme Court order banning liquor shops along highways is having a negative impact with cases of smuggling of spurious liquor rising sharply. Excise Department has found that the state is facing a threat of spurious liquor and the condition is likely to worsen with the oncoming of Easter and Vishu festivals. 
 

Excise officials have seized 128.4 litres of alcohol and recorded 24 Abkari cases from Mahe alone. They also seized 15 litres of Goa liquor, 1,433 litres of wash and 23.5 litres of Kerala State Beverages Corporation Ltd (BEVCO). 
 

Excise Department has announced a special drive to control the flow of spurious liquor in the state until April 20. "A control room has been opened, and the Department has launched two strike forces ahead of the festivals. The strike forces aim to curb the sale of spurious liquor, especially in areas near Mahi. Excise Department will join hands with the police, railway police and forest to tackle the issue," Excise deputy commissioner P k Suresh said. 
 

The officials also fear that flow of tobacco products and drugs are also likely to increase in the absence of liquor outlets. The special drive also aims to tackle drug abuse in the state. 
 

The Excise Commissioner has already issued alert to curb the flow of spurious liquor which is likely to increase in the absence of foreign liquor in open market. 

• Spurious liquor
• Liquor ban
• Supreme Court liquor ban
• excise special drive
• Excise Department