Kochi:Liquor shops with long queues outside are a source of "extreme nuisance" and "great vexation" for people living or working close to such outlets, the Kerala High Court said on Tuesday and added that ordinary citizens who are not drinkers should be spared this "anti-social" scenario.
Justice Devan Ramachandran said the court was not looking to set up a five-star facility for drinkers, but it was concerned that "liquor shops still cause great vexation to people, especially women and children, in areas they are located".
"Parents are also concerned by the bad influence such outlets could have on future generations," the court observed and added "ordinary citizens who are not drinkers should be spared this anti-social scenario".
The Excise Commissionerate and state-run Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) told the court that sanctioning more outlets could ease the pressure on the existing 306 licensed liquor shops.
The Excise Commissionerate, represented by the senior government pleader S Kannan, told the court that its suggestions to provide 'walk-in' and parking facilities at the liquor outlets was being considered.
It also said that it has requested the state government to "favourably" consider the BEVCO's proposal to sanction 175 more outlets in Kerala.
Kannan told the court that while in Kerala there is only one liquor outlet for 1.12 lakh people, in the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the ratio was much less as there were thousands of shops there which sell alcohol.
The court said that while the government was looking into the issue, one thing that was non-negotiable was that the harassment and the disturbance being caused to the people due to these outlets "should be stopped".