Firming up plans to drastically reduce availability of liquor, the Congress-led UDF government on Tuesday decided to issue notices to hoteliers below the five-star category to shut their bars by 12 September. The decision would mean that 312 functioning bars would be closed only after the Onam festival, to be celebrated in the first week of next month.
Briefing the media after the meeting that worked out the action plan on the UDF’s policy decision taken last week, Babu said notices would be issued to hoteliers on 28 August, asking them to wind up liquor sales within 15 days. As part of the procedures under the Abkari rules, unsold stockpile of IMFL from closed bars would be taken back by the state Beverages Corporation.
Briefing the media after the meeting that worked out the action plan on the UDF’s policy decision taken last week, Babu said notices would be issued to hoteliers on 28 August, asking them to wind up liquor sales within 15 days. As part of the procedures under the Abkari rules, unsold stockpile of IMFL from closed bars would be taken back by the state Beverages Corporation.