Toddy to be made available in star hotels in Kerala; Dry-day norms relaxed

Thiruvanathapuram: In a bid to boost the tourism sector, the Kerala government has decided to relax the dry day norm on the first day of every month as well as to allow toddy at star hotels.

According to the new excise policy of the state for 2025-26, hotels with three-star and above classifications as well as resorts in tourist destinations could procure toddy from toddy shops within their excise ranges for serving to guests.

At present, retail toddy sale was allowed only through the licensed toddy shops. Though the government earlier allowed star-hotels and resorts to tap toddy from coconut trees within their premises, it faced strong resistance from the toddy shops.

The new excise policy also provides for exploring the option of bringing out bottled toddy with more shelf life and tapping the export market. Nod would be given for bringing out value-added products from toddy.

The tourism sector had been lamenting that the dry day on the first day of every month was affecting the MICE tourism sector. Hence, the government decided to allow temporary liquor licenses with a fee of Rs. 50,000 for three-star and above hotels on the first day of every month.

Provisions to allow temporary liquor licenses to tourist boats are also introduced in the new policy.

Meanwhile, the fresh provision in the liquor policy, especially the easing of the dry day norm on the first day of every month, has triggered strong resentment from various anti-liquor forums.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council's temperance commission flayed that the state government was trying to liberalise the liquor supply while tightening enforcement against narcotic substances.