Kerala likely to resume sale of alcohol from May 28

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has approved the resumption of the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state beginning Thursday, said sources, even as the state is witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases following the easing of restrictions and arrival of Keralites from abroad and other parts of the country.

The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to resume liquor sales through the state-owned, Kerala State Beverages Corporation Limited (Bevco) and Kerala State Co. Operative Consumers' Federation Ltd (CONSUMERFED) outlets and bars after Google gave the nod to the mobile virtual queue management app, Bev Q, which is expected to help get rid of long queues in front of outlets.

The Kochi-based Faircode Technologies Private Limited had developed the app which apparently generates e-tokens to customers for purchase of alcohol at a predetermined time.

The customers can select the brand at the outlet and make the payment, say sources.

The app could be downloaded through Google Play Store or App Store. The customer by installing the application would be able to generate the token.

The customer has to provide their name, mobile number and pin code to open the app. After typing the OTP they can access the booking page and choose either liquor or beer and wine.

Once the booking is confirmed the customer will receive details of the outlet, queue number and date, and time of booking.

A customer can buy liquor only once (maximum 3 liters) in four days.

A division bench of the Kerala High Court had last month stayed the government decision to allow the sale of liquor to those suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome on the basis of a prescription given by a government doctor.