Kerala Church says government’s anti-alcohol measures not enough

(July 25, 2011) Church leaders in southern India’s Kerala state say they will oppose proposed new laws on the consumption of alcohol in the state because they don’t go far enough. Father Thomas Thaithottam the president of the Kerala Madhyavirudha Samiti (Association against Alcohol Consumption) said, “Certain recommendations are welcome but they are all pretty much the same.” “We can’t accept a plan to continue issuing bar licenses that allow them to operate till midnight,” said Father Stephen Alathara, a spokesperson for the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council, KCBC. The only plus point he noted was the proposal to raise the age limit for selling and buying alcohol from 18 to 21 years. The Kerala government submitted its proposals last week. Reducing the amount of alcohol a bar can stock and restricting licenses for bars after 2014 are among some of the recommendations. Kerala has the highest rate of alcohol consumption in India. Father Thaithottam said that bold steps have to be taken to curb the menace or the state’s culture, heritage, social and spiritual life will be in peril. He called on the government to teach school children about the dangers of alcohol in order to safeguard them from the menace. Bishop Sebastian Thekethecheril of Vijayapuram, chairman of KCBCI’s temperance commission wants a gradual closure of liquor outlets in the state.