Keralam government rolls back horti wine sales through bakeries within 24 hours

The Keralam government’s decision to allow the sale of horti wine, containing 15.5 per cent alcohol, through bakeries lasted less than 24 hours.

The previous Left Democratic Front government had amended the Foreign Liquor Rules in 2024 to permit licensed bakeries and shopping centres to sell bottled horti wine. Implementation was completed recently, with the new excise commissioner reportedly rolling out the policy without informing chief minister V.D. Satheesan or excise minister M. Liju.

Liju revoked the government order and sought an urgent report from the incumbent excise commissioner, Seeram Sambasiva Rao, who took charge three days ago.

The policy was intended to help farmers convert surplus tropical fruits, including jackfruit, cashew apple, pineapple and banana, into low-alcohol beverages. Hypermarkets, supermarkets and large bakeries were to sell the bottled wine.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), then in the Opposition, had protested in the Assembly over the amendments. The Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, however, went ahead with the policy. The UDF government has now halted the sale. Deputy excise commissioner (Abkari) C.K. Anil Kumar, who implemented the decision, has also been removed and replaced by V. Subhash.

Excise minister Liju told The Telegraph: “The UDF government’s new liquor policy is on the anvil. Then how is it possible to come up with such a major move as allowing the sale of horti wine through bakeries and supermarkets? We have also asked the secretaries of the law and taxes departments to give us a report on the merits and demerits of selling horti wine.”

M.R.C. Bakery in Chalakudy, Thrissur, had approached the excise commissioner early this year for permission to sell bottled wine. Approval was granted after the prescribed licence fee was collected.

The government has also raised concerns about the social implications of wider availability, given that the legal drinking age in Keralam is 23.