Thiruvananthapuram, 25 August (H.S.):Liquor retail outlets operated by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) and Consumerfed will remain closed on Wednesday for Thiruvonam and again on Friday on account of Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti.

Anticipating heavy crowds on Uthradam, traditionally one of the biggest days for liquor sales in Kerala, BEVCO has deployed additional employees at its retail outlets across the state. The corporation has also sought police surveillance outside major outlets to prevent violence and maintain order during the festival rush.

Although BEVCO and Consumerfed outlets will remain closed on Thiruvonam, licensed bars will be permitted to operate. However, all liquor outlets, including bars, will remain completely shut on Friday for Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti.

Kerala has recorded exceptionally high liquor sales during the current Onam season. According to official figures, BEVCO outlets registered sales worth ₹512.11 crore during the past six days, a sharp increase from the ₹460.8 crore recorded during the corresponding period last year. This represents an increase of more than ₹51 crore.

Uthradam is generally the single biggest day for liquor sales during the festival season. On Uthradam in 2025, BEVCO recorded sales worth ₹137 crore, an increase of ₹11 crore from ₹126 crore in 2024. The year-on-year growth in sales stood at 9.21 per cent.

BEVCO, one of the state’s strongest revenue-generating public sector undertakings, has also announced enhanced Onam bonuses for its employees this year. The maximum bonus payable to an employee has been fixed at ₹1.05 lakh, an increase of ₹2,500 compared with the previous year.

The surge reflects the traditionally high demand for liquor during Onam. Authorities have introduced additional crowd-control and security measures to prevent untoward incidents at busy outlets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman