Kerala govt extends bar timings till midnight ahead of polls, church fumes

KOTTAYAM: The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on Wednesday came out strongly against the state govt's decision to extend the timings of bars across the state. It urged its withdrawal and called upon all political parties and religious communities for a united agitation against the move to allow bars to function from 10am to midnight. Church laity secretary Biju Oommen, speaking on behalf of the Church, said the policy would have serious social consequences and could ruin the younger generation. Questioning whether the govt wanted the youth to spend the night in bars, he also sought to know the rationale behind increasing the availability of liquor and what it aimed to achieve through the revised policy. The people of the state are viewing this new policy with concern. Increasing the availability of liquor does not align with Kerala's cultural values, he said. Oommen alleged that the policy reflects a shift away from the govt's earlier stance on regulating alcohol consumption. He pointed out that when it came to power in 2016, the govt had promised to reduce liquor availability and had even run public awareness campaigns featuring actors to discourage alcohol use. He criticized what he described as the adoption of a ‘Pattaya model' of tourism and development, arguing that such an approach risks undermining Kerala's cultural identity. Promoting destination weddings and international conferences should not come at the cost of social well-being, he said. According to Oommen, the policy appears to favour the interests of bar owners at the expense of the wider public. There are around 1,000 bar owners in the state. He asked the govt to clarify whether their demands are more important than the tears of mothers in the state. He also expressed concern over the broader social impact of substance abuse, claiming that liquor and drugs have played a role in many crimes reported in the state in recent years. Strengthening govt revenue through increased alcohol sales, he added, raises ethical and social questions. At the same time, he maintained that the Church's opposition to the policy is not politically motivated but stems from concern about the long-term impact on society, particularly the younger generation. Oommen said the timing of the decision, ahead of elections, has also raised doubts in the public mind.