Kerala To Issue Special Passes To Tipplers To Buy Liquor To Combat New Issue Of Suicides Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak

The Kerala Government will issue special passes to tipplers in the State who suffer from withdrawal symptoms to help them buy liquor.

All liquor outlets in the State have been shut as part of the national lockdown to combat Coronavirus (Covid-19) which has claimed 47 lives so far in the country.

The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) came out with guidelines to make liquor available for those who exhibit withdrawal symptoms in the wake of the outlets being closed.

At least seven persons have committed suicide in Kerala following withdrawal symptoms.

The State Government said tipplers could get the special pass from the excise office after producing a doctor’s certificate along with documents to establish their identity. Only one pass will be given to an applicant.

Those exhibiting withdrawal symptoms can go to Government-run hospitals to get themselves examined and get the doctor’s certificate.

Kerala’s decision to provide liquor to those who produce doctor’s certificate has raised ethical questions, particularly among the medical community.

The Kerala Government decided to close all liquor outlets from 25 March after over 100 persons tested positive for Covid-19. Currently, 234 persons in the State have tested Coronavirus positive with two persons succumbing to the pandemic virus.

Liquor outlets will likely be shut until 14 April, when the lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ends.

The Vijayan government decision came after it was criticised for keeping the outlets open during the pandemic outbreak, leading to long queues at the outlets despite the State being under a total lockdown. Critics said this could lead to the further spread of the pandemic.

The Chief Minister, on 23 March, included liquor among the list of essential items saying the outlets would be kept open during the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Defending his decision, Vijayan told the media that Kerala’s ‘peculiar situation’ demanded that the outlets be kept open.