THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala's Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan criticised the government's new liquor policy on Thursday, saying it's all about making money for the CPI-M.

"The liquor policy that has been released reeks of arrogance on the part of Vijayan, who has been given a second term, and is designed to gain money by authorising more liquor stores, not to mention the opening of distilleries and breweries," Satheesan remarked.

"Nobody should forget what Vijayan wrote on Facebook in 2016 when the then-Oommen Chandy administration sanctioned liquor stores, assuring that everything would be taken care of once they were in power. And just look at the new liquor policy: it's a free-for-all and a way for people to make money by issuing new licences "Satheesan added.

Vijayan approved the new liquor policy on Wednesday, which will take effect on Friday and include the approval of more liquor stores, as well as the opening of booze vending machines in IT parks for the first time.

V.M. Sudheeran, who is veteran Congressman and noted prohibitionist, said the Left's argument was that when there was a shortage of liquor, people turned to drugs, and that now, thanks to the new policy, both liquor and drugs will be abundant.

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