Keralam Excise dept. bans issuance of new liquor licences until promulgation of Keralam govt.’s liquor policy

Thiruvananthapuram The Excise department has banned the issuance of new liquor licences, including for bars and wine and beer parlours, till the United Democratic Front (UDF) government promulgates its alcohol policy for the 2026-27 fiscal year on November 30. Additional Excise Commissioner (Enforcement) R Jayasankar, who holds the charge of Excise Commissioner, barred Deputy Commissioners from issuing new bar licences, including permits for beer and wine parlours that have acquired four-star hotel classification, to sell hard spirits.

The circular comes on the heels of the government shifting Seeram Samabasiva Rao from the Excise Commissioner’s post in the wake of a political row over the department’s “hasty” reclassification of a few bars and beer parlours as bars and the almost “instantaneous” approval to private players to open lounge bars at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL). The government had cancelled the renewed licences, including for the lounge bars.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Excise Minister M.