India's Kerala state revokes liquor policy after widespread protests

Published: 2004-10-25

NEW DELHI, India (CNS) -- The Kerala state government revoked a controversial liquor policy following widespread protests that included Catholics. P.T. Chacko, government spokesman, told Catholic News Service that the widespread criticism of the new policy made the government revoke it Oct. 20, within a week after it was announced. The policy would have loosened restrictions on alcohol. "We are glad that the government has sensed the mood of the people and revoked this disastrous policy," said Father Paul Thelakkat, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. In a telephone interview from Cochin, Father Thelakkat said that "free flow of liquor under the new (liquor) policy would have only worsened the severe alcoholism here (in Kerala)." Kerala has the highest alcoholism rate in India.

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