"New Year is coming and I can't imagine the number of bottles that will be bought," said Joyamma.
Thiruvananthapuram:
For this group of elderly women selling fish, nothing has changed since the Kerala government implemented its new alcohol policy in April 2014 -- selling hard liquor only in 5-Star hotels or government-run outlets.
Their biggest worry still remains that their husbands will spend all their earnings to buy liquor.
"There is no respite... they all still buy liquor," said Joyamma, a fisherwoman. "If they earn Rs 1000, they will spend it all on drinking. New Year is coming and I can't imagine the number of bottles that will be bought."
Toddy, made from fermented palm-tree sap, is exempt from the ban and the drink has long been part of Kerala's culture.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld the Kerala government's new alcohol policy.
Over 700 bars have been given one option -- of converting themselves into beer and wine parlours where no hard liquor is sold. The government hopes the policy is a step towards Kerala becoming a zero alcohol state in 10 years.The latest excise figures show that absolute alcohol consumption levels have dropped by 20.27% -- 2,41,75,916 litres -- compared to the figures of 2013-2014. Beer and wine sales have increased in the last 6 months after bars were allowed to sell beer and wine.
Welcoming the verdict, state Congress chief VM Sudheeran said, "The social impact of this new alcohol policy is already very commendable as crime rate and domestic violence have reduced. Kerala is going to be a model for states."
The liquor industry once generated Rs 8000 crore revenue for the state. The potential loss of a chunk of this earning did not discourage the government.
But for the bars, which have been converted into beer and wine parlours, the decline in business remains a huge challenge and downsizing a harsh reality.
"Our sales have dropped by more than 50%," said Suresh M Pillai, chief of Thiruvananthapuam's Hotel Horizon. "This will also hit tourism. People like drinking when they are holidaying. I don't expect much. Spurious liquor will become a menace."
Their biggest worry still remains that their husbands will spend all their earnings to buy liquor.
"There is no respite... they all still buy liquor," said Joyamma, a fisherwoman. "If they earn Rs 1000, they will spend it all on drinking. New Year is coming and I can't imagine the number of bottles that will be bought."
Toddy, made from fermented palm-tree sap, is exempt from the ban and the drink has long been part of Kerala's culture.
Fisherwomen say despite the ban, their husbands still manage to source liquor.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld the Kerala government's new alcohol policy.
Over 700 bars have been given one option -- of converting themselves into beer and wine parlours where no hard liquor is sold. The government hopes the policy is a step towards Kerala becoming a zero alcohol state in 10 years.The latest excise figures show that absolute alcohol consumption levels have dropped by 20.27% -- 2,41,75,916 litres -- compared to the figures of 2013-2014. Beer and wine sales have increased in the last 6 months after bars were allowed to sell beer and wine.
Welcoming the verdict, state Congress chief VM Sudheeran said, "The social impact of this new alcohol policy is already very commendable as crime rate and domestic violence have reduced. Kerala is going to be a model for states."
The liquor industry once generated Rs 8000 crore revenue for the state. The potential loss of a chunk of this earning did not discourage the government.
Long queue outside a liquor outlet in Kerala.
But for the bars, which have been converted into beer and wine parlours, the decline in business remains a huge challenge and downsizing a harsh reality.
"Our sales have dropped by more than 50%," said Suresh M Pillai, chief of Thiruvananthapuam's Hotel Horizon. "This will also hit tourism. People like drinking when they are holidaying. I don't expect much. Spurious liquor will become a menace."
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