Liquor ban policy: Group of Technology Companies opposes total prohibition

The Group of Technology Companies (G Tech) Kerala, an organisation of Technopark-based IT companies, has stated that total prohibition would adversely impact the growth and development of the IT industry in the state.

In a letter to the chief minister and the industries minister, GTech vice chairman Alexander Varghese urged the government not to resort to enforcement but educate people to follow the right lifestyles. In a democracy, lifestyle changes are best brought about and sustained by education and encouragement and not by enforcement.

The letter further said no IT company of consequence will plan to set up their facilities in a state, which has such archaic regulations. The impact will be equally severe in tourism and hospitality sectors. Corporate conferences, which is a major source of revenue for the hospitality and tourism sectors, will be badly impacted.

There is no case in history of having achieved the desired results through prohibition. On the contrary, such regulations promote corruption, illegitimate business leading to illicit liquor and associated perils of death and total disabilities, and that too suffered by less privileged in society.

"There is a problem that the Kerala families face due to excessive consumption of alcohol, especially in certain income segments of the society. Our proposition is that we can go for a pragmatic approach of 'partial prohibition' by limiting the opening hours of all public bars, including the ones in 5-star hotels from 5 pm to midnight on all days, thus reducing the availability and consumption drastically," the letter said.