Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is planning to allow more liquor bars in tourist destinations.
It is considering implementing the plan in 44 tourist areas.
The state has asked the tourism director to submit details of the 44 tourist destinations by clearly outlining their boundaries.
The excise department can allow more liquor bars and issue a notification only after it gets the details from the tourism department.
The department is in the process of preparing a list of tourism centres in each district by obtaining the necessary details, including the reports of the respective district collectors, officials said.
Under the Foreign Liquor Rules in Kerala, only three-star establishments and those operating in the tourism sector are allowed to operate liquor bars.
While beer and wine parlours can be started only if they have three-star facilities, existing rules provide some relaxations in tourist destinations.
In areas notified as tourist destinations, the parlours need not have star facilities. They have to only follow the requirements of the tourism department to start operations.
More beer and wine parlours can be opened in areas designated as tourist spots by the government.
The current government has issued 170 new bar licences. It also renewed the licences of 404 bars that were forced to shut down as part of the previous government’s anti-liquor drive.
