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The Excise Department which has intensified its drive against illicit Indian-Made Foreign Liquor during Onam, has drawn flak for not properly checking the quality of liquor being supplied through various outlets in the state.
Though the Excise Department claims of conducting frequent checks at bars and Beverages Corporation outlets, it is alleged that the quality of liquor is not being properly checked at any level.
A Food Safety official said that the drive against illicit liquor could be successful but it would be hard to check the quality of all the batches of liquor that are being sold through outlets.
In the case of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor, no standards have been fixed which made checking difficult. This is unlike in the case of toddy, where quality standards have been set, he said.
Unnithan, a resident of Vattiyoorkavu in the city, said: ‘’I am a regular drinker. During the last few weeks, I have been experiencing a change in taste of the same brand that I use. Moreover, I am having severe headache the next day, which I had not experienced earlier.’’
A similar experience was narrated by another person, Laxman.
‘’I have been drinking a particular brand for the last many years. I have felt some change in the taste on some particular days. I doubt if low quality liquor is being supplied at the bars and the Beverages Corporation outlets,’’ he said.
However, Excise Commissioner Anil Xavier said that no tampering could take place with the liquor brands which are being sold through Beverages Corporation outlets.
However, he said, it could happen at the bars.
‘’The liquor that is supplied at the Beverages Corporation has hologram seals which cannot be tampered with. Moreover, we are regularly taking samples from the bars and also from Beverages Corporation outlets,’’ he said.
Anil said that the drive had been intensified even in the remote areas of Wayanad and Idukki districts from where some complaints have come. Special squads have been formed against illicit liquor, he added.
According to a Food Safety official: ‘’It will be difficult to check the quality of liquor served in the bars.’’
He alleged that there could be some nexus between bar owners and the companies which supply liquor brands.
‘’ Though liquor also comes under food category, we have not taken up the issue as we are already short of staff,’’ he said.
At the same time, directives have been issued for monitoring toddy shops to check the quality of toddy supplied, he added.
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