On March 25, the Kerala Government enforced total prohibition in the State to prevent people from queuing up in front of State-run liquor outlets in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. With this, as many as 265 liquor outlets under the Bevco and 36 outlets under the Consumerfed will be closed down. The 21-day ban on alcohol would be the longest in Kerala after revoking a partial prohibition on alcohol in 2017.

The government is considering the possibility to sell liquor online or as a takeaway. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting convened on Wednesday. As currently, it is illegal for bars to allow customers to take away alcohol, the government will have to tweak the liquor rules to approve the new proposal.

Meanwhile, the state seemed yet to come to terms entirely with the new reality as senior police officers had to turn back citizens who unnecessarily stepped out of houses. On Tuesday, the Police nabbed 402 cases for violating the lockdown guidelines in Kerala. State Police Chief Loknath Behera said the police would further tighten the restrictions as the lockdown progressed.