Modi govt mum on Kerala liquor ban

New Delhi: Union Tourism Minister [caption id=“attachment_1675249” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tourism Minister Shripad Naik. PIB[/caption] on Tuesday declined to comment on Kerala’s proposed liquor ban policy saying it is a state government’s decision and he is yet to “examine it”. “We have not studied it. It was a state government’s decision,” Naik said on the sidelines of a function here when asked to comment on Kerala’s plan to ban sale and consumption of alcohol. Kerala has outlined plans to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol to tackle the state’s alcohol-related problem. The state government aims to enforce total prohibition in 10 years. Asked repeatedly whether the Ministry supports Kerala’s proposed prohibition policy, he maintained “I am yet to study it…We have to see what was the demand of the locals in the state.” Kerala, which draws a considerable number of global tourists for its beaches, backwaters and ayurvedic service, is one of the highest liquor consuming state in the country. Asked whether the ban is going to affect tourist arrivals in the state, he said “I have to examine that. It was a state government decision. I do not know the details. I have to examine it and then I would be able to say anything on it.” PTI