Kerala cancels bar licence for lounge at Kochi airport’s Terminal 3

The Kerala government has cancelled an FL7 bar licence for the air lounge bar on the second floor of Terminal 3 at Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery, Mathrubhumi reported on 9 November.

The licence had been granted while Seeram Sambasiva Rao was Excise Commissioner. The cancellation order was issued by Additional Excise Commissioner R. Jayashankar, who holds charge of the Excise Commissioner’s post.

Why it was cancelled

The government has decided not to issue any new bar licences, including FL7 licences, until the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s new liquor policy is in place, the report said. The applicant can reapply once the policy is ready.

The applicant can also claim a refund of the ₹2 lakh licence application fee.

The background

An FL7 licence allows a bar to serve liquor in places such as airport lounges. The Times of India reported that this was the third bar licence at Kochi airport to be cancelled.

Excise Minister M. Liju’s department is preparing the new liquor policy. The applicant’s response to the cancellation was not available.

What’s next

New bar licences, including at airports, will be considered only after the government announces its liquor policy. No date has been given for it.