Kerala Excise Minister M. Liju on Friday directed bars across the state to verify the age of customers before serving liquor, making it clear that checking Aadhaar cards or other valid age-proof documents whenever there is doubt about a customer's age is the responsibility of bar licence holders. Kerala's legal drinking age is 23.

Source: IANS via NewKerala

"Those who come to consume liquor may have the right to do so only after attaining the legally prescribed age of 23. The responsibility for verifying the age of those who appear to be below this limit rests entirely with the bars," the minister said, according to IANS.

Liju warned that any bar found serving liquor to a customer below 23 anywhere in the state would face stringent action, including cancellation of its licence. Surprise inspections by the Excise Department will also continue, he said.

Directive follows the fatal Nedumbassery crash

The minister said the recent Nedumbassery Mini Cooper accident had exposed the consequences of failing to enforce the age restriction. According to reports, a 19-year-old driver who had allegedly consumed alcohol at multiple bars was at the wheel when the car collided with a scooter near Nedumbassery, killing all three young people on the scooter. The Excise Department has already taken action against establishments found to have served liquor to the underage accused, and the minister said there would be no compromise on enforcing the law.

Source: Channeliam

Earlier in October, Liju had told the state Assembly that cases had been registered against three bars for allegedly serving liquor to people below the legally prescribed age of 23 in connection with the same crash, and that clear guidelines would be issued to prevent such violations.

23 yearsKerala's legal drinking age
Rs 21,130.78 croreBEVCO liquor and beer sales in 2025-26
Rs 18,675.71 croreBEVCO contribution to the state exchequer in 2025-26

The directive comes as liquor remains one of Kerala's biggest revenue earners: sales through the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) touched Rs 21,130.78 crore in 2025-26, up from Rs 19,732.82 crore the previous year, while the corporation's contribution to the state exchequer through taxes and levies climbed to Rs 18,675.71 crore. Liju also said the new UDF government's excise policy would come into force in November and would be different from the previous LDF government's policy.