Latest news with #AbkariAct
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Kerala beverages corporation pushes for online liquor sale in state despite government opposition
The Kerala State Beverages (Marketing & Manufacturing) Corporation Limited (BEVCO) has renewed its proposal for home delivery of liquor through online sales, despite the state government's repeated refusal to amend the Abkari Act to enable such a move. The proposal, submitted to the Excise Department by BEVCO Managing Director Harshita Attaluri was based on an offer from food and grocery delivery platform Swiggy to deliver liquor to customers' doorsteps. Attaluri said that if the state government approves the proposal, a tender process will be initiated and the lowest bidder will be awarded the contract. Customers aged 23 and above would be eligible to place orders, with mandatory ID verification to confirm age, and all products available at BEVCO outlets would also be offered online. The BEVCO Managing Director said that the primary reason for the proposal is to reduce crowding in front of liquor outlets, which is a common sight in Kerala and often causes traffic congestion. She noted that while Tamil Nadu operates around 4,700 liquor shops, Kerala has only 283 outlets, leading to long queues. The introduction of online sales, she said, could divert a significant portion of customers to the platform, easing congestion at physical stores. The corporation also hopes that home delivery will boost sales revenue. BEVCO's revenue in 2024–25 was Rs 19,700 crore, up from Rs 19,050 crore the previous fiscal. Attaluri expressed confidence that online sales could lead to phenomenal growth in these figures. However, Excise Department officials have said that the proposal faces legal challenges. Liquor sales in Kerala are regulated by the Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953, and introducing online sales would require amendments to the Abkari Act along with new rules, all of which must be approved by the state government. The officials confirmed that a similar proposal had been considered and rejected earlier. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Kerala had temporarily allowed online liquor sales through a virtual queue system, supported by a dedicated mobile application. BEVCO currently manages the sale and distribution of Indian Made Foreign Liquor, beer, wine, Foreign Made Foreign Liquor and Foreign Made Wine in Kerala, operating 26 warehouses and 283 retail outlets, of which 155 have self-service or premium counters. Liquor sales remain a major source of tax revenue for the state, with collections rising from Rs 8,778.29 crore in 2016–17 to Rs 15,170.82 crore in 2023–24. Despite BEVCO's persistence, the state government's opposition to amending the Abkari Act leaves the future of online liquor sales in Kerala uncertain.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Liquor Home Delivery In Kerala? Beverage Body Floats Proposal
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Beverages (Marketing & Manufacturing) Corporation Limited (BEVCO) has put forth a proposal to the state government for the home delivery of liquor through online sales. The move, aimed at increasing revenue and reducing overcrowding at retail outlets, is currently under consideration, though it would require amendments to the state's Abkari Act. The proposal suggests a system where individuals aged 23 and above can place orders online, with age verification being a mandatory step. BEVCO anticipates that this new system will not only streamline sales but also significantly boost the state's revenue. This is not the first time such a proposal has been floated. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Kerala briefly introduced a virtual queue system via an app to manage crowds at liquor stores, but home delivery was not implemented for the general public. However, the state had a temporary system to provide liquor to those with withdrawal symptoms based on a doctor's prescription. Kerala has a relatively low number of retail liquor outlets compared to its neighbouring states. The state has approximately 278 outlets operated by BEVCO, which is a significantly lower number per capita than states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This low number is a primary reason for the long queues and overcrowding at outlets, a problem the home delivery proposal seeks to address. Kerala is a major consumer of alcohol, and liquor sales are a vital source of revenue for the state. In the fiscal year 2023-24, alcohol sales generated over Rs 19,000 crore, making it one of the largest sources of income. The government relies heavily on this revenue to fund various public services and infrastructure projects. The proposal's proponents believe home delivery will further increase these sales, particularly for premium brands, and boost government coffers. Other benefits cited by BEVCO is the reduction of long queues and crowding at retail outlets, which are often criticised for their poor facilities and inconvenience, especially for women and the elderly. The proposal faces strong opposition, primarily from social and anti-alcohol groups, who argue that it would lead to an increase in alcohol consumption and alcoholism. Concerns have also been raised about the potential for underage drinking, despite the proposed age verification measures. Political backlash and pressure from traditional retail bodies have also been significant hurdles in the past. While Kerala has mulled the idea, several other Indian states have already implemented or experimented with liquor home delivery. States like Odisha and West Bengal currently allow home delivery of alcohol. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, states such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh temporarily permitted home delivery to curb the spread of the virus. Other states, including Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, and Punjab, have also explored similar pilot projects, often in collaboration with popular online delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, to cater to changing consumer preferences and increase tax revenue.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
KSEB employee, bar staff held for giving alcohol to school students in Chalakudy
Chalakudy police have arrested a KSEB employee and two bar staff for luring two underage school students into a bar and serving them alcohol. The accused have been charged under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Abkari Act and remanded in custody. The incident occurred on August 7, 2025, near a school in Chaipankuzhi. According to the police, KSEB employee Snehesh (44), of Palissery, Annamanada, allegedly took the students on his motorcycle to a bar in Mothirakkanni, where he bought them beer. Bar staff Divakaran (45), and Aneesh (34), were also arrested for serving alcohol to the students. A special police team arrested them. The police said a report will be submitted against Snehesh for departmental action. 'Stringent action will continue against crimes that threaten student safety,' said Rural Police chief the police B Krishnakumar.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Distilleries liable to pay full pay to excise officers deputed to their manufacturing units: Kerala HC
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has held that private distilleries are liable to pay full pay and additional allowances of excise officers deputed to supervise manufacturing of liquor at their distilleries as cost of establishment to the State government. The Bench led by Justice Anil K. Narendran made the observation recently while allowing the appeals filed by the State government against the ruling of a single judge's verdict that only the additional allowance and not full pay of the officers needs to be paid to the government. The single judge's order came on writ petitions filed by the private distilleries which sell their products to the the Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation challenging the collection of full pay. Senior government pleader Vinitha B. submitted that under the provisions of the Abkari Act, the Kerala Distillery and Warehouse Rules 1968, Foreign Liquor (Storage in bond) Rules 1961 and Kerala Rectified Spirit Rules 1972, the State government is authorised to depute excise officials for supervising activities and the cost for deputing such officers has to be borne by the distilleries. She also pointed out that as per the licence conditions, the distilleries are bound to pay the actual cost payable to the officer deputed. Therefore, the distilleries could not take the stand that only the charge allowance would be paid under section 53(b) of part I of Kerala Service Rules. Besides, the charge allowance was actually the one payable under Section 53(b) between the State government and its employees. The court observed that payment of establishment cost is one of the license conditions for granting the privilege of manufacturing intoxicating liquor. The court noted that there are no permanent cadre posts created for the supervisory functions of distilleries. The officers are deployed by the government. Therefore, private distilleries cannot contend that they are liable to pay only the charge allowance for the additional duty of an officer deputed to supervise the distilleries.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Time of India
Man arrested with 150 litres of wash in Kuttampuzha
Kochi: Excise department in Aluva arrested a 34-year-old man after seizing 150 litres of wash and distillation equipment used for brewing illicit liquor from a house in Kuttampuzha on Friday. The seizure was made from a house in Mamalakkandam, Kuttampuzha arrested person was identified as Anish. He was arrested under Section 55(g) of Abkari Act and a case was registered against him at Kuttampuzha excise range office. Officials stated that the wash was intended for producing and distributing illicit liquor to homestays in Mamalakkandam team included assistant excise inspector grade Aji Agustin, preventive officers grade Shameer VA, Dedu VC and civil excise officer Naini Mohan.
