KOCHI: At least 50 bars, including five-star hotels Le Meridien, Crown Plaza and Holiday Inn, which remained shut from April 1 can reopen following the Supreme Court's clarification the other day the liquor ban along highways was not applicable to licensed bars and beverages outlets within municipal areas.
Bars in around 50 three and four-star hotels had opened in the district after the state government's new liquor policy which allowed liquor to be served in hotels in three-star and above categories. However, 50 bars including those of five-star hotels in Athani near the Cochin International Airport – the Hotel Airlink Castle and Diana Heights – will remain closed as they fall under panchayat limits, said industry officers.
Binoy Joseph, treasurer of Kerala Bar Hotels Association, said a total of 150 hotels were closed in Ernakulam district from April 1 after last year's order of the Supreme Court which prohibited liquor sale within 500 meters of the outer edge of a national or state highway or of a service lane along the highways. “But post the SC clarification, we expect around 50 bars to reopen in Ernakulam,” said Binoy.
Girish Kumar, director of Food & Beverages at Le Meridien, said the 5-star hotel was waiting for a final order from the government to get “complete clarity” in the matter. "Yes, going by the SC clarification, we can open our bar," he said. "As per our calculation, at least 50 hotels, including two 5-star hotels in Athani, continue to remain closed even after the SC clarification,” he said.In light of the clarification, the state government's decision to denotify state highways may become redundant as the clarification will have more or less the same effect, said another industry officer. “Our sense is the government may have to rethink the decision.” A big problem for the Kerala Tourism industry is the bars in Kumarakom resorts may remain closed as they fall under panchayat limits.