The Kerala High Court has granted an interim stay on a liquor naming and logo contest floated in connection with a proposed premium brandy linked to Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation (BEVCO) and Malabar Distilleries Ltd. The order came while considering two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) that challenged the legality of the initiative.
The petitioners contended that inviting public participation to name and design branding for a liquor product amounts to indirect advertisement and violates Section 55H of the Kerala Abkari Act, which prohibits advertisements and solicitations that encourage liquor consumption. They argued that a government-owned entity associating itself with such a promotional exercise could run contrary to public policy and statutory restrictions on alcohol promotion.
In response, BEVCO submitted that it had not issued any formal notification or press release regarding the contest and clarified that it does not manufacture liquor. However, the court observed that the contest appeared to solicit public engagement for branding a product that is yet to be launched.
Taking note of the submissions, the High Court directed that no further steps be taken in relation to the contest until the writ petitions are finally decided. The matter has been posted for further hearing in March.
