The long ques in front of Bevco shops may finally see some relief: Representational imageKochi: Some good news to share while you wait in that long queue in front of the alcohol retail outlets in Kerala.
The government monopoly in Kerala plans to sell selected liquor brands through dispensing machines near overcrowded outlets.
Shoppers may be able to deposit money into the machine and walk away with the bottle spat out by the machine, if the state government gives the go-ahead to a proposal submitted by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation.
The plan, sent to the tax secretary, envisages sale of liquor brands with price tags in multiples of hundred.
The automated sale, however, would be subject to legal restrictions. A shopper will not be able to buy more bottles than he is permitted to.
The plan is not to make alcohol freely available, but to put an end to the rush in front of the outlets, KSBC managing director H Venketesh said.
The corporation’s out-of-the-box thinking follows scathing comments from the Kerala High Court regarding the unruly scenes in front of the outlets.
The corporation has already started a token system in outlets which experience heavy demand.
The planned dispensable machines would save on manpower as they will need only one staff to man each.
The KSBC is on a modernizing drive. The corporation has installed debit card-reading machines in 75 outlets.
The computerization of the network is expected to complete in a year.
The corporation also plans to roll out several mobile apps to help users locate the nearest outlet and the availability of their favored brands.
Read more at: Latest in Kerala | Body of woman dead in Malaysia not that of murder convict Kerala doctor, say police
