THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

tax relief just technical adjustment, says Minister M Liju - Kerala Kaumudi THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Excise Minister M. Liju clarified that the Excise Department has not made any strategic or policy-level decisions regarding the tax concessions announced for low-strength alcohol in the recent state budget. Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, the minister emphasised that the current adjustment is merely a technical calibration of sales tax rates executed by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department, rather than a structural overhaul of liquor regulations. Comprehensive discussions regarding the state’s Abkari policy are scheduled to take place following the conclusion of the ongoing legislative assembly session. The United Democratic Front (UDF) government intends to consult stakeholders across various sectors to gather diverse opinions before officially announcing its new liquor policy. The current measure remains entirely confined to taxation parameters. Addressing criticisms from the opposition, Liju pointed out that the classification of beverages with an alcohol content between 0.5 percent and 20 percent as low-strength was originally established under the previous Left Democ…

Explained: Why A Proposed Tax Cut On Low-Alcohol Beverages Has Sparked ... Political storm erupts over proposed tax reduction on low-alcohol beverages amid anti-drug campaign UDF government proposes cutting tax on low-alcohol beverages from 251% to 120%, sparking widespread criticism. IUML ally and Congress leaders express unease while CPI(M) and BJP accuse the move of encouraging drinking. Government defends the tax proposal as confidential and not yet a policy on introducing new beverages. The Congress-led UDF government in Kerala is facing growing pressure to review its budget proposal to slash taxes on low-alcohol beverages, even as it advances an anti-drug campaign. Key ally IUML has voiced concerns, while the opposition CPI(M)-led LDF has stepped up attacks, alleging the move favours private liquor interests and contradicts stated policy goals. The tax reduction from 251 per cent to 120 per cent has sparked debate across political lines, with questions about its timing, consultation process, and potential impact on alcohol consumption in the state. The controversy erupted shortly after the budget presentation by Chief Minister V D Satheesan, who also holds the finance p…

Kerala’s former Excise Minister flays UDF for reducing tax on low-alcohol drinks He says the previous LDF government permitted production of low-alcohol beverages only from fruits and farm produce, while the UDF government is allowing production using spirit, which will cause corruption and social harm

UDF Creating Illusion That Liquor Policy Will Be Decided After Party ... Thursday 02, July 2026 English E-paper Trending Topics English Kerala Published onJun 27, 2026, 05:47 PM|2min read Thiruvananthapuram: KN Balagopal has said that the UDF government, having already proposed provisions on low-strength liquor production in the budget and prepared a bill on the matter, is merely creating an illusion by now claiming the decision will be taken only after consultations within the party and the front. He said the UDF government is completely misleading the people on this matter, asking what relevance there is in saying the issue will be discussed within the UDF after a bill has already been passed in the Assembly and become a public record. He questioned why those who took only a few hours to scrap the SilverLine project showed none of that same urgency or interest when it comes to low-strength liquor or the PM SHRI scheme. Had the LDF taken any such decision, he asked, wouldn't low-strength liquor already be available in the market today? The LDF's stance, he said, was that no tax concession should be granted to anyone — not just Bacardi. The LDF's concept was "Horti Wine," …

Explained: The UDF's low-alcohol tax cut proposal in Kerala and its ... Published Jun 25, 2026 | 9:00 AM⚊Updated Jun 25, 2026 | 4:10 PM The bigger challenge lies in how the UDF government plans to finance its remaining welfare commitments. Synopsis: The proposal of the UDF government in Kerala to reduce taxes on low-alcohol beverages has become one of the first major issues to shake both the Assembly and the UDF. The Opposition has alleged that the move benefits a private liquor company, while the government insists it is merely completing a framework introduced by the previous LDF government. Further, even UDF constituents are opposing the move. Liquor has always been a highly sensitive issue in Kerala’s political landscape, with the power to influence electoral fortunes and even determine which front comes to power. The UDF’s controversial liquor policy, including the closure of bars and its push towards prohibition, played a significant role in its defeat in the 2016 Assembly elections. A decade later, when the UDF returned to power, liquor policy and taxation once again emerged as major political flashpoints. The debate over the government’s proposal to reduce taxes on lo…

No decision yet on low alcohol beverages ,Kerala excise minister Thiruvananthapuram, 20 June (H.S.): Kerala excise minister M.Liju on Saturday clarified that the UDF government has not taken any policy decision on the sale or promotion of low-alcohol beverages in the state ,dismissing criticism from the opposition on the matter. The minister said the concept of categorising beverages with an alcohol content ranging from 0.5 per cent to 20 per cent as “low-alcohol beverages” was introduced by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. He pointed out that the LDF administration had also amended regulations in 2025 to permit the production of Horti Wine, an alcoholic beverage made from fruits, with an alcohol content ranging between 20 and 30 per cent. According to Liju, it was the previous government that laid the groundwork for the production and regulation of such beverages and also decided to grant permissions for distilleries to manufacture them. He questioned the rationale behind the LDF now criticising a concept that it had itself introduced and implemented during its tenure. “The Excise Department under the present UDF government has not taken any special decisio…

Former Kerala Excise Minister Alleges Corruption Over Alcohol Tax Cut Palakkad:Former excise minister MB Rajesh on Saturday criticised the UDF government's budget proposal to reduce taxes on low-alcohol beverages, alleging that the move would make alcohol more widely available and primarily benefit corporate liquor companies. Addressing a press conference in Palakkad, Rajesh claimed that the tax reduction would pave the way for the large-scale sale of ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages in the state under the guise of low-alcohol products. "The decision will facilitate the widespread availability of low-alcohol beverages across the state. Products that can be consumed like soft drinks, will become easily accessible through Bevco outlets," he alleged. Rajesh further alleged that the move was aimed at benefiting liquor companies and questioned the rationale behind the tax concession. He also claimed that the decision would result in a revenue loss of around Rs 600 crore to the state exchequer. The former minister alleged that the proposal was influenced by liquor industry interests and demanded that the government explain the basis for granting the tax relief. Alleging that a Ka…

Bacardi can wait. Sale of low-alcohol drinks only after UDF thumbs up Onmanorama Staff Published: June 24, 2026 06:39 PM IST 5 minuteRead New tax rates for low-alcohol liquor brands will only be implemented if the UDF coalition government approves them. The Chief Minister attributed the swift processing of tax proposals to the necessity of completing decisions before the Budget presentation. The Chief Minister refuted allegations of bribery and accused the opposition (LDF) of initiating discussions on low-alcohol beverages and encouraging their sale previously, citing their own policy and past actions. Link Copied Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday told the Kerala Assembly that the new tax rates proposed in his Budget for low-alcohol liquor brands would become operational only after the UDF gave its nod. "Abkari policy is a political decision. It has to be taken collectively by the UDF," the Chief Minister said while replying to the Budget discussions in the Assembly. In his Budget, Satheesan had proposed two tax slabs for the new category called low-alcohol beverages. 120 per cent for drinks with 0.5% to 10% alcohol content, and 175 per cent for drinks with 10-20%…

Low alcoholic drinks: Pinarayi alleges Congress deal with liquor major ... Onmanorama Staff Published: June 23, 2026 11:22 AM IST 3 minuteRead Opposition LDF disrupted Assembly proceedings and staged a walkout due to a Budget proposal to lower taxes on low-alcoholic beverages. Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan alleged the tax reduction benefits liquor major Bacardi and aims to make liquor as readily available as soft drinks in Kerala. The Speaker refused an adjournment motion on the issue, stating that discussions would continue and provide opportunities to raise concerns, while also citing a precedent from 1989. Link Copied The Opposition LDF on Tuesday attempted to disrupt Assembly proceedings and then walked out over the Budget proposal to fix a low tax rate for low-alcoholic beverages. Amid the chaos, Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the move was intended to benefit liquor major Bacardi. The House descended into pandemonium after Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan refused permission for an adjournment motion moved by former Finance Minister K N Balagopal on the issue. "There is no way I can allow the Rule 50 notice (adjournment motion). There will be …

Minister Liju denies new Kerala liquor policy, budget tax tweak triggers ... Home » General » Business » Minister Liju denies new Kerala liquor policy, budget tax tweak triggers fresh political row Posted By: Gopi June 20, 2026 Thiruvananthapuram, June 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) A political storm erupted on Saturday over the Budget proposal allowing a lower tax structure for low-alcohol beverages, with former Kerala Excise Minister and CPI-M leader M.B. Rajesh attacking the move and the present Excise Minister M. Liju dismissing allegations of a new liquor policy. Reacting to Rajesh's charges, Minister Liju said the Budget announcement by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan was only a financial exercise involving taxation of wine and liquor products and did not amount to a new liquor policy. "There is no new liquor policy in place. A policy, when it is framed, will come only after consultations with all stakeholders. The government will conduct an elaborate exercise before announcing it," he added. The clarification came after Rajesh alleged that the UDF government's move to reduce taxes on low strength alcoholic beverages would lead to the widespread availability of ready-to-drink alcoholic p…

Tax cut on low-alcohol beverages: CPI(M) alleges it benefits liquor firms ... Home India Tax cut on low-alcohol beverages: CPI(M) alleges it benefits liquor firms, govt... India Tax cut on low-alcohol beverages: CPI(M) alleges it benefits liquor firms, govt rejects charges PTI 20 June, 2026 09:48 pm IST Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Follow Us : Text Size: A- A+ Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 20 (PTI) The UDF government’s proposal to slash taxes on low-alcohol beverages triggered a political row in Kerala on Saturday, with the opposition CPI(M) alleging that the move was designed to benefit liquor companies and could pave the way for corruption, a charge rejected by the ruling front. Defending the budget proposal, state Excise Minister M Liju said the government had not taken any decision on introducing low-alcohol beverages in the state and that the move announced in the budget was only a financial decision relating to taxation. He said it was the previous LDF government that had amended the Abkari Act in 2023 to create a separate category for low-alcohol beverages with alcohol content ranging from 0.5 per cent to 20 per cent and had introduced another amendment in 2025. Show Full A…

Liquor policy row in Kerala: UDF demands resignation of excise, tourism ... Published May 26, 2024 | 11:25 AM⚊Updated May 26, 2024 | 11:25 AM Excise Minister MB Rajesh, Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas (Facebook) The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on Saturday, 26 May, stepped up its attack against the Left government in the state over its liquor policy and demanded the resignation of Excise and Tourism ministers over alleged corruption in this regard. The Congress-led front said a crime branch probe would not bring out the real truth behind the alleged graft to the tune of several crores in connection with the liquor policy and therefore a judicial probe should be carried out. The demand came a day after reports of the state government mulling scrapping the ‘dry day’ norm (not selling alcohol in the state on the first day of every calendar month) with respect to alcohol sales had kicked off a political storm in the state. While the UDF has accused the LDF dispensation of taking bribes to ‘favour’ bar owners, the Left claimed that it has not yet held any deliberations over its liquor policy. Addressing mediapersons in Palakkad, UDF Convenor MM Hassan said the repo…

Row brews in Kerala over lowering booze tax: 'Youth can access more ... The United Democratic Front government in Kerala has landed in a controversy over its budget proposal to sharply reduce the sales tax on Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) with low alcohol content. The development has led the Opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) to accuse the government of intending to benefit a leading liquor manufacturer. Presenting the revisedBudgetfor the current fiscal on Friday, Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that alcoholic beverages with alcohol content between 0.5 percent and 10 percent v/v (volume by volume) would attract a sales tax of 120 per cent. Products with alcohol content above 10 per cent and up to 20 per cent v/v would be taxed at 175 percent. At present, all IMFL products in Kerala attract a uniform sales tax of 251 percent, irrespective of alcohol content. Satheesan, who also holds the finance portfolio, relied on the previous CPI(M) government’s 2022-23 abkari policy, which had permitted the sale of low-alcohol beverages in the state. However, the tax structure for such products had not been revised then. Senior CPI(M) leader and former Excise Minister …

Kerala Low-Alcohol Liquor Decision After UDF Talks: CM Satheesan Thiruvanathapuram:Amid a heated political debate over the proposed tax structure for low-alcohol beverages, Chief Minister V. D. Satheeshan told the Kerala assembly on Wednesday that the new budget tax rates would only be implemented after receiving approval from the ruling UDF. Responding to the Budget discussions, he said that since the Abkari policy is a political decision, it must be made collectively by the UDF leadership. In his Budget, Satheeshan had suggested two tax slabs for a new category called low-alcohol beverages: 120 per cent for drinks with 0.5 to 10 per cent alcohol content, and 175 per cent for drinks with 10 to 20 percent alcohol content. The chief minister said a draft liquor policy will be formulated, and all UDF constituents will be consulted for their opinions. “A decision will be made only after this process,” he said and added that if the UDF gives the go-ahead for the sale of low-alcohol and includes the proposal in the new liquor policy, then these would be the proposed rates. If the UDF opposes it, these brands will not be sold in the state. He refuted the charge that the Excise Depart…