Kochi: Restless customers jostling for space and sweating it out under the scorching sun in front of liquor shops could soon be a thing of the past.
In a bid to make shopping a ‘cool’ affair and reduce the inconvenience caused to consumers, the Kerala State Cooperative Consumer’s Federation (Consumerfed) has decided to air-condition all its retail outlets in the state within six months.
The initiative is expected to enhance the overall ambiance and help costumers select the brands of their choice without any hassle.
In the initial phase, the premium outlets will be air-conditioned and equipped with surveillance cameras. Consumerfed has also decided to approach the central government for issue of licence to sell both Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and imported liquor. At present, the retail liquor outlets operated by both the Consumerfed and the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) sell IMFL brands alone.
Each outlet with an average area of up to 3,000 square meters will get a 6-ton air-conditioner each. Four surveillance cameras and seven computers will also be installed in each of them.
Consumerfed, the apex body of consumer co-operatives in the state, has also plans to introduce paid-parking facilities adjacent to the liquor shops.
The shops would be modernized at a cost of Rs 3 lakh each, officials informed.
“We have submitted a request to the DGP to intensify drive against drunk driving with breathalyzers near our outlets during peak hours. We hope it will stop costumers from consuming liquor near the outlet, causing hardships to local residents,” said Consumerfed managing director M. Ramanunni.
If granted permission by the Center, imported liquor would be sold through Consumerfed outlets on the lines of duty-free shops at airports.
The Consumerfed operates as many as 39 liquor outlets across the state. Out of the 29 outlets that had to be relocated as mandated by the Supreme Court, 20 has already been shifted from highways.
The decision to relocate two shops in Thiruvananathpuram has invited stiff protests from locals, while the remaining ones are embroiled in disputes with grama panchayats and legal issues.