With the city on the brink of becoming a metro, makeover is the order of the day in all walks of life. Not to be left behind is Kerala State Beverages Corporation Ltd (Bevco).
Taking a cue from the success of the premium outlet opened in the Capital city, the Bevco is planning to open such a facility in Kochi too.
Now tipplers can enjoy the luxury of stepping into the comfort zone of a premium shop and pick their favourite brands of IMFL, beer and wine.
The outlet will offer almost all the Premium IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) brands, arranged on the separate racks, where the customer can walk in and pick their favourite choice. According to Bevco officials, Vyttila is being considered as the best option for opening the outlet.
“A culture of responsible drinking has been identified in society and people have demanded such a facility. We have asked the officials concerned to identify a spot for setting up the outlet in Kochi. Since the government policy will not allow the opening of new outlets, we will have to shut down one of the existing ones for opening the premium outlet,” Excise Minister K Babu told City Express.
The Minister said Bevco officials have been asked to identify an apt location in the city. “The outlet is likely to be opened before Onam,” he said.
According to Bevco secretary John Jospeh, Vyttila is one of the options for opening the outlet. “We do not have any other store which can be converted into a premium facility at short notice. However, a final decision is yet to be taken. The shop will offer only premium brands of IMFL, beer and wine,” he said. As the outlet is being opened to promote responsible drinking and not for encouraging
binge drinking, the authorities have decided to restrict the sales to only premium brands ranging from `500. However, drinkers, who want to taste the luxury of Cognac and premium Scotch Whiskey will have to wait further. “We cannot sell Foreign Made foreign Liquor (FMFL) through these outlets. If the government take a policy decision in this regard, we can consider selling such premium brands through such outlets,” said Excise Commissioner X Anil.