The “Dry Day” Comedy
Posted by JoDec 8
Kerala’s liquor policy is one of the most stupid and ineffective decisions of the previous government which is being continued to the date by the current government. According to the existing policy, bars and liquor shops would remain shut on the first of every month and on all government holidays. One of the reasons cited for this move was that the employees would spend a good portion of their monthly salary in the bars or for buying liquor from the shops on the first of every month. So the government thought this move would reduce the liquor consumption, but they were wrong.
In fact, the government statistics show that Malayalees’ liquor consumption has only increased ever since the policy put in place. The reasons are plenty. Not all drunkards are salaried people. There are so many people who work for daily wages who spend a good portion of their daily wages to buy liquor from the shops or from bar hotels. And for salaried sector, they buy and store liquor prior to the holidays (including Hartal days as Hartal is also a major holiday here in Kerala). So you can see big queues outside the liquor shops on 30th or 31st of every month. Well, that’s not all. Even on the 1st of every month and holidays, you will get liquor for some extra bucks. Some three star hotels sell liquor on these days through their backdoor. Only difference is that you will have to pay some extra than the usual shop rate. Some ‘wise men’ also store liquor in big quantities and sell them to their ‘regular customers’ on these Dry Days. So you only have to give them a call and get your bottle delivered, again, for some extra bucks.
So in effect, the government’s policy is only helping some private parties to make more money out of the Dry Days. This joke has got to stop and government should think about other ways to effectively implement the liquor policy.
(Image courtesy: Rediff.com)
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4 comments
Comment by kanika on December 9, 2008 at 11:08 am
quite an eye-opener!! I really wish that the government takes more stringent steps to curb this liquor menace! They shouls focus on the execution of the laws they make and not just implement them and consider thier job done!
Comment by Din on December 9, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Never expect any positive move on the liquor ban / part ban from the present Govt. As they think it will lead to losing votes (that of people who work in this field – as employee etc) , they will never do it.
The dry day is just a gimmick and nothing much.
Comment by Ravi on December 9, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Jo, I beg to differ. If this move has curbed atleast a few daily wage workers in heading to the liquor store on 1st of the month, I think its a success. The backdoor sales is a different story which the govt. will have to deal with separately. But just because there is a loophole, should the intention of the original move be blamed? I am not against drinking but the daily wages workers’ story is different. They seem to shell out all the earning on liquor (for whatever reasons) and leave their family in the dark.
Comment by Din on December 10, 2008 at 3:56 pm
On a second thought there is point in what Ravi mentioned. Even with the loopholes, some families get benefited. Might be a very small step, but better than nothing.