Long Queues Outside Liquor Stores Hinder Safe Movement Of Women & Children: Kerala High Court Urges Excise Dept. To Consider Walk-In Shops

The Kerala High Court on Thursday urged the Excise Department and BEVCO to start thinking about providing walk-in facilities at liquor outlets, instead of letting people line up in the streets. 

Justice Devan Ramachandran while considering a contempt petition orally remarked:

"Nobody wants a liquor store next to their residence. This is a fact; there is no point in lying about it. But if liquor stores were like all the other stores with a walk-in facility, it would solve half the problem. The issue is that since these outlets are small and dingy, people line up on the streets, making it impossible for women and children to safely walk through these areas. I don't see why we are burying our heads in the sand; this is happening and we all know it."

Government Pleader S Kannan submitted a report and informed the Court that the Excise Department of the State had taken several fast-paced 'baby steps' towards improvement of liquor stores in the State. The 33 shops allowed to be retained have been upgraded, 12 new buildings have been identified as suitable locations to establish liquor stores and many other developments were mentioned in the report. 

To avoid overcrowding at the stalls, online booking services were also made available, the Government Pleader pointed out. 

The Court inquired as to the status of the letter that it had added to the case file whereby a woman had complained about the new location of a particular outlet situated at Ramamangalam town. 

To this, the Government Pleader responded that after examining the functioning of the said shop, steps were taken to shift the same to another area of the same building with sufficient parking. 

The Court directed the respondents to initiate steps to make all liquor stores in the State walk-in shops to make it convenient for the citizens. 

The petitioner was directed to implead S. Shyam Sundar, the new Managing Director of BEVCO into the matter. The case will be taken up again on 9th November. 

During the proceedings today, the Court also remarked that people were ready to spend thousands on the improvement of liquor stores in the State.

"I'm happy to see that there is no poverty when people are lining up in front of liquor stores. It is perhaps the only place where there is an egalitarian attitude; nobody wants subsidies, nobody demands reservations. Everyone obediently lines up for liquor without complaining."

These developments ensued in a contempt petition regarding the non-implementation of the Court's order to provide a dignified way to citizens to purchase liquor from BEVCO outlets. It also addressed the overcrowding in front of these stores. This order was passed four years ago.

Case Title: My Hindustan Paints v. S. Aanathakrishnan IPS