Thiruvananthapuram : The Opposition Leader’s comment of drugs tightening its grip in Kerala is derogatory to the State’s public and is aimed eke out political leverage, said Excise Minister MB Rajesh.
The new liquor policy lays emphasis on production, investment, exports, employment while also focusing on alcohol restriction and Kerala’s own toddy brand.
In talking about State, the Opposition Leader is conveniently blinded to the fact that Kerala has less alcohol consumption and fewer sales centres compared to other States. Nationally speaking, Kerala ranks 22nd in alcohol consumption. At 12.4, the alcohol consumption here is way below the national average of 14.6 percent. The number of ganja(cannabis) users in the country is 2.8 percent while it is only 0.1 percent in Kerala.
The neighboring state Karnataka has 3980 liquor sale outlets which is hugely more than Kerala Tamil Nadu has ten times more liquor outlets than Kerala. In fact, Tamil Nadu is set to open 500 more outlets. Its present number is 5329.
Kerala currently has 309 liquor distribution outlets and 772 bars. In other states, there is one sales outlet to every 30,000 people while here the rate is one distribution outlet per 1 lakh people. The sparse numbers is causing congestion at points where the outlets are located, hence the decision to raise their numbers, the Minister said, adding that, it is history with Kerala that liquor consumption does not rise with increase in sales outlets.
The Minister was speaking at Meet the Press event organised at Journalist Union headquarters in the capital
