The Kerala government has issued an order extending the operating hours of bars and beer and wine parlours by two hours. With this, the bars and beer parlours will be able to function from 10 a.m. to midnight in Kerala.
In addition, the government has decided to grant permission to FL3 licensed bar hotels having 5-star classification and above to function till 3 a.m., allowing an additional 3 hours after the permissible closing time, on payment of an annual rental of ₹5 lakh.
Kerala government weighs political risk of reducing dry days in liquor policy for 2025-26 fiscal
As per the order, which was issued on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) as an extraordinary gazette, the changes have been made in the interest of promoting Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, destination wedding, international conference and other conferences. For the above purpose, the Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953 needs to be amended suitably. The bar owners have been for a long time demanding for extension of operarating hours.
Move sparks row
