Kochi: Beware boozers, do not exceed your limits, else you will be booked by Kerala excise department even if you are a tourist.
Some tourists from Karnataka were booked by Kerala Excise sleuths for keeping “excess beer” bottles, media reports said.
The tourists were at the hill station of Paruthumpara in Idukki when they were held, media reports said.
They had purchased “seven beer” bottles from the Bevco outlet at Paruthumpara and were boarding their vehicle when they were intercepted by the excise official, the reports said.
When contacted, a top excise official told the newsskerala.com that the tourists had admitted to their folly and had agreed to pay the prescribed fine. The fine may vary from Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000.
Meanwhile, the Peermedu panchayat President Dinesan of the CPM has criticised the action of the Excise department which had done similar acts in the past causing harm to tourism, the reports said.
He wondered why the excise had detained the tourists for buying beer which he said was not considered as alcoholic.
The matter will be taken up with authorities concerned to prevent the excise from derailing tourism activities, he told newsskerala.com.
Photo Credit: Facebook
