Alappuzha (Keralam), Oct 18 Keralam government issued an order on Sunday cancelling the licence issued to a bakery to sell horti wine, an alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting tropical fruits and agricultural products.
Excise Minister M Liju earlier cited concerns about the social impact of permitting the sale of the alcoholic beverage through bakeries and other retail outlets for the decision.
Excise Department also changed the concerned Abkari Deputy Commissioner, C K Anilkumar, who handled the application to grant the licence to a bakery in Chalakkudy, Thrissur, officials said. The previous LDF government amended the Foreign Liquor Rules in 2024, permitting licensed bakeries and shopping centres to sell horti wine.
A firm based in Chalakudy had approached the Excise Commissioner seeking permission to sell the beverage under the amended rules. The commissioner granted permission after collecting the prescribed licence fee, officials said.
The firm recently began selling the product, bringing the matter to public attention.
The order that cancelled the licence granted to the bakery stated that procedures for announcing the current government’s liquor policy are underway. The decision on whether to retain the provision permitting the sale of horti-wine in malls, supermarkets and bakeries will be taken in accordance with the liquor policy to be announced by the government, it added.
“In this context, all further action and proceedings have been ordered to be kept in abeyance until further orders. The Excise Commissioner has also been directed to ensure that no sale of horti-wine takes place in malls, supermarkets or bakeries until further orders,” it said.
Earlier in a Facebook post, Liju said that under the amended rules, joint excise commissioners can issue licences for the sale of the beverage with the approval of the Excise Commissioner and upon collection of an annual fee of Rs 10,000.
Based on an application received on 20 November 2025, the Excise Commissioner’s office issued a licence to a bakery to sell horti wine on June 21 this year, the minister said.
Liju said, “When action is taken in accordance with the previous government’s policy, the government must be informed, particularly when the UDF government’s liquor policy has not yet come into force,” he said.
He said that the Excise Commissioner has been asked to submit an urgent report on the matter and that strict action will be taken against the officials responsible for deciding without informing the government.
After the sale of Horti wine turned controversial, the Excise Department on Sunday removed Abkari Deputy Commissioner Anilkumar from his position. The order issued in this regard said that Deputy Commissioner V Subash is posted to the position.
Early in the day, speaking to reporters, Liju said there might be no technical issue with the Excise Commissioner granting permission under the existing rules, but the matter should have been brought to the minister’s attention.
“The decision should have been taken only after informing the minister and others,” he said, adding that the government will examine the matter seriously.
The minister said the government had doubts about the social implications of making such products available through supermarkets and bakeries.
“Even if it was the previous government’s policy, how beneficial is it to society for it to be available in a supermarket or a bakery,” he asked.
Meanwhile, former Excise Minister and CPI(M) leader M B Rajesh said the licence for the sale of horti wine in Chalakudy was issued in June, after the UDF government came to power.
“It is true that the amendment to the rules was made during the LDF government’s tenure. But the licence was not issued during the LDF regime. The licence in Chalakudy was issued in June, after the government changed and the UDF came to power,” he said.
Rajesh said the LDF government had approved the production of fruit wine to support farmers and the decision was taken following suggestions from agricultural organisations and experts in the sector.
He alleged that an attempt was being made to create confusion by equating fruit wine with other low-alcohol beverages.
“This is not liquor in the conventional sense. It is wine produced by fermenting agricultural products,” he said.
Rajesh questioned the minister’s claim that he was unaware of the licence, pointing out that it was issued in June, after the UDF government assumed office.
“If the minister was unaware of it, that is not our fault. The licence was issued in June under the existing rules,” he said.
He also said the production and sale of fruit wine were not decisions taken overnight, but followed detailed discussions and consultations with stakeholders, including agricultural organisations.
Rajesh said the UDF government should clarify whether it was now reconsidering decisions related to licences for such products, adding that if the minister was unaware of the developments, it pointed to a lack of communication within the government.
(PTI News)
