Apex court upholds curbs on serving liquor in Kerala

Says States should be givena free hand in protecting health

Upholding the controversial ‘Liquor-Free Kerala’ policy restricting the serving of liquor to five-star hotels in the State, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the State governments be given a free hand to curtail or ban public consumption of alcohol to protect public health and nutrition.

The policy led to the closure of over 400 bars and restricted liquor availability to nearly 20 five-star hotels.

“The consumption of tobacco as well as liquor is now undeniably deleterious to the health of humankind. Vulnerable persons, either because of age or proclivity towards intoxication or as a feature of peer pressure, more often than not succumb to this temptation.

“Banning public consumption of alcohol, therefore, in our considered opinion, cannot but be seen as a positive step towards bringing down the consumption of alcohol, or as preparatory to prohibition,” a Bench of Justices Vikramjit Sen and Shiva Kirti Singh said.

Chance for cure

Justice Sen, who authored the judgment, said the “besieged State” should be given a fair chance to cure itself.

Dismissing the challenge of bar owners, the Bench said: “Litigation pertaining to or challenging liquor policies is legion in our land.”

Sources: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/apex-court-upholds-curbs-on-serving-liquor-in-kerala/article8043167.ece