Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has allegedly now decided to finally permit legal alcohol in IT parks, thus it is giving an opportunity to create another political battleground.
Again the government showed signs of healing the software industry’s long standing complaint about Kerala being a disappointing job destination for techies due to a lack of vibrant socializing venues and this was quite visible in the year 2022 when it agreed on principle to the sale of alcoholic beverages on legal basis within specific areas in IT Parks.
The government also proposed amending liquor rules for this purpose, with a strict rider that these should operate as highly restricted private members’ clubs with only Technopark employees and their guests allowed.
Thereafter, the government sent the matter to Subject Committee (8) of Kerala Legislative Assembly. The Subject Committee earlier this year reportedly compelled the government to proceed with laws authorising the sale of liquor in IT parks albeit with certain conditions attached.
However, as compared to ₹35 lakhs paid annually for licenses by bar owners, such low levy enables IT park clubs to sell much more affordable liquors to staffs.
Nevertheless, Congress which at least on paper has had a strongly prohibitionist stance aligned with sentiments from Muslim social organizations and Church seems red eyed by this.
According to Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, former Home Minister and Congress leader MLA who is also part of Subject Committee; LDF’s decision “to flood IT parks with easily available” liquor is intolerable. He announced that he would place his objection note before assembly members during discussions on topic.
Reportedly other opposition members within the Subject Committee viewed that such suggestion could mean that promoters or co-developers of IT Parks could outsource operational matters regarding Technopark club services from foreign countries. However LDF people seem not buying into such claims.
In addition one official added that there were sensitive issues like ending the ban on alcohol sales and drinking on the 1st of each month that the government was considering.
Firstly, Kerala’s Tourism industry has repeatedly urged the authorities to lift what is called “unreasonable restrictions” applied to liquor sales and bar timings in a bid to reposition State as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination over other competing destinations like Sri Lanka or Goa.
