Thiruvananthapuram: Ahead of Malayalis' biggest festival Onam, Bacchus-loving Keralites have yet another reason to say cheers. The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), the monopoly alcohol retailer in the state, has opened its doors to imported brands like Glenfiddich and Johnie Walker.
Even though the KSBC shops are free to sell the imported booze brands from Monday, connoisseurs will have to wait for another week to relish their refined fills. Kerala is infamous for its alcohol consumption with the state once topping the list in the country.
According to state excise minister TP Ramakrishnan, liquor sales in 2017-18 had brought in an increased revenue of Rs 671 crore as compared to the previous financial year. In 2016-17, the state received Rs 10,353 crore from booze sales while it was Rs 11,024 crore in 2017-18.
The state excise department is yet to finish the formalities to grant licences to sell imported brands. The foreign companies, who have won the bids to import alcohol, are yet to do so.
As many as 147 brands from 17 distillers are expected to be showcased in KSBC outlets in the first stage. The most expensive among them would be Glenfiddich Single Malt at Rs 57,710 for a 700ml bottle.
All beverages outlets will sell 'foreign-made foreign liquor' (apart from the usual Indian-made foreign liquor), said KSBC managing director H Venkitesh. He, however, said the corporation was not sure about the expected stock.
“We will distribute imported brands to all outlets if we have enough stock. Otherwise, the supply will be limited to premium outlets and supermarkets in the first stage,” he added.
The imported brands will be available in five measures - 200ml, 500ml, 700 ml, 750ml and 1 litre. Johnie Walker Red Label whisky will be available in 350ml too.
Major brands such as Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Jack Daniel’s and Absolut will be sold in the next stage, the KSBC said.
Here's a price list
• Johnie Walker Blue Label 750 ml - Rs 20,310
• Johnie Walker Black Label 750 ml - Rs 4,000
• Johnie Walker Black Label 200 ml - Rs 1,230
• Johnie Walker, aged 18 years 750 ml - Rs 7,710
•Johnie Walker Double Black Whisky 750 ml - Rs 4,720
• Johnie Walker Gold Label Whisky 750 ml - Rs 6,110
• Johnie Walker Red Label 750 ml - Rs 1,950
• Johnie Walker Red Label 375 ml - Rs 1,120
• Remy Martin Fine Champagne Cognac VSOP 700 ml - Rs 8,220
• Napoleon Brandy 700 ml - Rs 1,740
• Dewar’s Scotch Whisky 750 ml - Rs 4,310
• Grey Goose Vodka 750 ml - Rs 4,510
• Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky 700 ml - Rs 57,710
• God’s Own French VSOP Brandy 750 ml - Rs 1,480
• Teacher’s Highland Cream 1 litre - Rs 2,120
• Renaissance VSOP Brandy 700 ml - Rs 1,980
• Sir Peterson Finest Scotch Whisky 700 ml - Rs 1,990
• Royal Edinburgh Scotch Whisky 700 ml - Rs 1,590
• Francois Martin Cognac 700 ml - Rs 5,480
• God's Own White Wine 750 ml - Rs 550
• God''s Own Red Wine 750 ml - Rs 550
The Kerala government had last year raised the legal drinking age from 21 to 23 years. The previous UDF government had supported a pro-prohibition move by closing bars and state-run liquor vending outlets to reduce the availability of legal liquor.
However, after the LDF government took over, it eased the norms for opening bars and allowed several closed down places to open business.
This move had drawn flak from Opposition parties and prohibition activists.
The National Family Health Survey 2015-16 had shown that number of women who consume liquor in Kerala has gone up. The average percentage of men who drink in Kerala has come down to 37 per cent from the 45.2 per cent in the previous survey of 2005-06.
Read more: Kerala news
