(Image source from: Supreme Court tells Kerala to follow Gujarat model of prohibition})

The Supreme Court of India has directed Kerala to follow the Gujarat model of prohibition if it wants to ban alcohol. The apex court's directive comes following Oommen Chandy government's ban on sale of alcohol all over the state, but bars in five-star hotels will be allowed to serve booze.

The state of Gujarat also has a ban, but unlike Kerala there is a total ban on alcohol.

Last month the Kerala government announced a 10-year plan to bring prohibition into Kerala. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said except five-star hotels there will be no sale of liquor in Kerala. And even five-star hotels will have to go dry on Sundays.

The Supreme Court says if the Kerala government wants to ban alcohol it should go for a total ban and not exempt five-star hotels from the plan.

If the Kerala government's policy is implemented than over 700 bars in the state will be shut down before September 30.

So the bars in Kerala took the Oommen Chandy government to court as it would have meant cancelation of their licenses begining tomorrow, as per the government's plan which endeavours to turn the state dry in a span of 10 years

However, the Supreme Court said the final call has to be taken by the Kerala High Court, which has been told to deliver its verdict by the September end.

The Kerala government has a 10-year plan to phase out liquor from the state. The move will leave a big hole in the tax coffers of the state, which was valued at over $1 billion or 6,000 crores in the 2012-13 financial year.

Bar owners in the state have taken the Kerala government to court saying a ban on alcohol will affect the inflow of tourists in the state. People will start opting for other destinations like Goa or Sri Lanka.

Kerala may loose on taxes and fees earned from the sale of alcohol. But the fact remains that there is an alcohol problem in Kerala, which is infamous for having the highest liquor consumption levels in the country.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)