Toddy parlours to be set up in tourist spots

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise minister T P Ramakrishnan said in the assembly the government is planning to introduce toddy parlours in tourist destinations of the state.

As part of modernizing the sector and to create more employment opportunities for protecting the toddy workers, the government is planning to set up a toddy board.

Plans are on anvil to create more value-added products from toddy for generating more revenue and to ensure toddy workers benefit from them. The government is also considering construction of permanent buildings in certain areas for selling toddy and related products.

While announcing the new liquor policy, the government had proposed to set up a toddy board for the welfare of toddy workers. Under the policy, the government has given bar licences to 121 hotels with three-star rating. At present, there are 466 beer and wine parlours in the state. Forty more new bars were given licences.

The minister said 40% of beer and 7% of Indian-made foreign liquor sold in the state were imported from other states. Hence. the government has been considering providing licences for setting up new brewery, compounding, blending and bottling units.