Kerala’s Excise Department has directed bars across the state to strictly verify the age of customers before serving alcohol to anyone suspected to be below the legal drinking age of 23. Excise Minister M Liju said bar owners and licence holders are responsible for ensuring that underage customers are not served liquor.
The directive follows the fatal Nedumbassery road accident involving a 19-year-old driver who allegedly consumed alcohol at multiple bars before his car collided with a scooter, killing three people.
The minister instructed bar establishments to check Aadhaar cards or other valid age-proof documents whenever there is doubt about a customer’s age. He warned that establishments violating the rules would face stringent action, including suspension or cancellation of their licences.
Aadhaar Verification for Customers Below 23
The minister clarified that bars are not required to check the Aadhaar cards of every customer. Age verification is necessary when a customer appears to be below 23 years. In such cases, bar staff must check Aadhaar or another valid age-proof document before serving alcohol.
The responsibility for enforcing the minimum drinking age rests with bar licence holders and management. The Excise Department will continue inspections to identify establishments violating the regulations.
M Liju said the government would not compromise on enforcing the age restriction and warned that bars found serving liquor to underage customers could face strict action, including licence cancellation.
Nedumbassery Accident Triggers Action
The directive comes after a fatal accident near Nedumbassery involving a Mini Cooper driven by a 19-year-old, Suhail Sajeev. The vehicle allegedly rammed into a scooter carrying three young people, killing all three.
According to reports, the accused had allegedly visited multiple bars and consumed alcohol before the accident. The incident raised questions about how underage customers were able to purchase and consume liquor at licensed establishments.
The Excise Department initiated action against bars allegedly involved in serving alcohol to the accused. The minister said establishments must strictly follow the legal drinking age and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Kerala’s New Liquor Policy Expected in November
The minister also said the state government’s new liquor policy is expected to be announced in November 2026. The policy is intended to promote responsible drinking while balancing alcohol regulation with the interests of Kerala’s tourism sector.
The government has indicated that its approach will differ from the previous administration’s liquor policy. Initial discussions on the new framework have been completed, and the matter has also been communicated to the Kerala High Court.
The stricter age-verification directive is part of the government’s stated focus on enforcing existing liquor regulations and strengthening accountability among bar operators.
Kerala’s Excise Department directs bars to strictly verify age using Aadhaar or valid IDs for customers under 23 following the fatal Nedumbassery accident.
