Kerala High Court reinstates alcohol ban

The Kerala High Court has ruled alcohol is not a fundamental right and upheld a government ban on alcohol in the state, closing 300 bars and leaving just 24 five-star hotels with alcohol licences.

The Kerala High Court has upheld the government’s decision to ban alcohol in the state

The Division Bench comprising Justices KT Sankaran and Matthew P Thomas announced that the motion would be implemented from yesterday, 31 March, having rejected all arguments put forward for the ban.

Bartenders have protested against the decision and said they will move to the Supreme Court today, 1 April.

“Promotion of tourism is not proportional to consumption of liquor,” the bench stated, as reported by The Times of India.

“Tourism by itself is not an end and if somebody says that cocaine is provided or other psychotropic substances are provided in public places more tourists are likely to come to Kerala, it would be disastrous.

“It is for the state to evolve the policy taking into account the welfare of citizens, morality, decency and public order. Courts are not expected to delve into that realm.”

Officials first proposed an outright ban on the sale of alcohol in Kerala in August 2014, which was met with outrage by leading drinks groups in India who argued such a move would only lead to greater black market trading.

In September, the motion was partly put on hold by the Kerala High Court, which went on to initially uphold the government’s plans in October, before partially backtracking again in December due to health and economic worries.

India’s southern state of Kerala is the country’s largest consumer of alcohol.