Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant move, the Kerala government has issued an official order extending the operating hours of bars across the state by two hours. Under the new regulations, 884 bars and beer-wine parlors in the state are now permitted to serve liquor from 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight).
New Timing Regulations
While general bars and beer-wine parlors see an extension until midnight, the government has granted even further relaxation for five-star hotels. These establishments can now serve liquor until 3:00 AM, provided they obtain special permission by paying an annual fee of ₹5 lakh.
However, the government clarified that these extensions will not apply to clubs.
The Move to Unify Timings
The government maintains that this decision aims to “unify” bar timings across the state. This follows a January 2025 order that increased the number of designated tourism zones from 14 to 98. Previously, only bars located within these tourism zones were allowed to operate until midnight, while others had to close earlier.
This disparity led to several issues:
- Business Imbalance: Bar owners in non-tourism zones complained that neighboring bars in tourism zones were attracting all the business.
- Operational Disputes: In some areas, bars on one side of a road (falling under a tourism zone) stayed open until 12 AM, while those on the opposite side had to close at 11 PM. Excise reports indicated that this inconsistency often led to heated arguments between customers and bar staff.
Political Context and Allegations
The timing of this decision—coming just months before the Assembly elections—has sparked political debate. Critics allege that the move is an attempt by the state government to favor bar owners.
The growth in the number of bars has also come under scrutiny. When the first Pinarayi Vijayan government assumed power in 2016, there were only 29 bars in the state. Since the start of the second Pinarayi government’s term, licenses have been granted to 131 new bars, significantly increasing the total count.
