Government reverses liquor licence policy for tourism’s sake
Having pledged to eliminate tobacco and alcohol menace from the country, the government is now well and truly on reverse gear to promote liquor sales for the sake of tourist development in the country. This policy reversal came to light following the decision taken at a high level meeting of the government think tank to relax the 500 metre requirement for issuing liquor licences to Tourist Board-approved hotels, restaurants and liquor bars. According to the present regulation, the location of premises for operation of licences in respect of sale of liquor off the premises should be 500 meters away (as the crow flies from boundary to boundary) from schools and places of public religious worship and in respect of licences for selling liquor for consumption within the premises.
However in recent times, there are glaring examples of wine stores and supermarkets selling liquor which are often in front or near places of religious worship of different religions and schools, violating the 500 metre-rule. The relaxation of the 500 metre rule will be implemented under the supervision of the Treasury Secretary. According to the Presidential Media Unit, 349 liquor bar licenses were cancelled by the President in March last year as they were operating in violation of the Excise Act regulations.
Among cancelled liquor bars most of them were operated near to schools and places of religious worship. The new move comes about a year after the President’s orders to shut down such liquor dens. On hearing this decision, the Ven. Anuradhapure Sumanasara Thera, former Principal of Subhadrarama Pirivena, told the Business Times, the action of the government reminds him “Dawal Miguel Rae Daniyel” or Jekyll and Hyde and the old saying ‘Redda Asse Mahattaya” – wearing patriotic tunic over the US suit.