Kerala government has asked the Excise Commissioner for a detailed report of horti wine sale through bakeries, given the approval process and the social repercussions of making alcoholic beverages available through regular retail outlets.
Excise Minister M. Liju said on October 18 that the government would investigate the circumstances under which permission was granted to sell horti wine in the state. The issue came into the spotlight after a bakery in Chalakudy started selling the beverage, which is said to be 15% alcohol.
According to reports, the company in Chalakudy had approached the Excise Commissioner several months ago to obtain permission to sell horti wine under the existing rules.
The licence was granted after the prescribed fee was paid. A bakery provided the product to the public, and the sale attracted public attention.
What Is Horti Wine
Horti wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting tropical fruits and other agricultural products. Its production has been promoted as a way to make better use of locally available farm produce and create additional opportunities for farmers.
The previous LDF government amended the Foreign Liquor Rules in 2024 to allow horti wine to be sold through licensed retail outlets. These included eligible bakeries, supermarkets and shopping centres.
The policy was intended to create a market for beverages made from agricultural products. But the recent sale has raised questions about how the rules are being implemented and whether the wider implications of retail distribution were adequately considered.
Excise Approval Under Scrutiny
Minister M. Liju was not satisfied with the manner in which permission was granted. It was a decision that should have been made in advance to the minister and other relevant authorities before the product entered the market.
While the current rules may have supported the licence, the government would like to know how the approval was made and what was in the back-burner.
The minister also asked whether selling an alcoholic beverage through bakeries and supermarkets would be beneficial to society. The availability of alcohol in establishments that are so much a part of daily shopping has become an issue in the current debate.
The report will be sought from the Excise Commissioner and will give information about the application and licence issued, and the regulations under which the sale was allowed.
Government to Examine Next Steps
The government has said it will make further decisions after reviewing the report. And for that reason the debate has also picked back up about the distinction between allowing horti wine to be made and where to sell it.
Horti wine production has been supported by the industry because farmers have the potential to benefit and value-added products can be added to agricultural products. At the same time, the government is looking at the availability of alcoholic beverages and the social consequences of expanding their retail accessibility.
The episode speaks to how difficult it is to implement an existing policy when administrative oversight is questioned and public interest is at stake.
As of now, the government’s next steps will be informed by the findings of the Excise Commissioner and any further investigation of the law and rules. The issue has put Kerala’s horti wine policy under renewed scrutiny, and licensing and the suitability of bakery-based sales as well as the bakery-based sales is one of the key points of debate on the issue.
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