Bars in Keralam Must Mandatorily Verify Customer Age Using Aadhaar
· India · The Hindu, Hindustan Times
Excise Minister M. Liju has announced that bars across Keralam must verify customers' ages using Aadhaar cards before serving liquor. The directive follows a fatal drunk-driving road accident in Nedumbassery that resulted in three deaths. Speaking on October 30, 2026, Minister M. Liju stated that the legal drinking age in Keralam is 23 and warned that establishments violating the age restriction will face immediate licence suspensions. The Excise Department has already registered a case regarding the Nedumbassery crash and suspended licences of bars found serving alcohol to underage patrons. The Minister emphasized that the state government will maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward enforcement of the age limit.
Why it matters
The directive forces hospitality businesses across Keralam to implement strict digital identity checks, shifting liability directly onto establishments that serve alcohol to underage patrons.
Read the original report — The Hindu
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.