alcohol in kerala

smileysally · Dec 19th, 2005, 05:51

We were in GOA last year had a really good time. Particularly liked the beach shacks.
We are planning to go to Kerala soon . Do they have the same type of shacks on the beach and can you get a COLD BEER.

freenote · Dec 19th, 2005, 06:14

Yes ,you can get a cold beer . It might be served in a teapot, or wrapped in newspaper and placed under the table, or you might have to sit at the back of the restaurant to consume it . Whatever the delivery method is , I know it will taste B****y lovely .

Wanderer22 · Dec 19th, 2005, 09:52

Ah yes.... The special tea ! You drink it from a coffee mug so the foam is not too obvious.

W22

Serena · Dec 19th, 2005, 17:17

Nice one Wanderer! My special tea

john.sw · Dec 19th, 2005, 17:27

Bars attached to hotels are legal. They normally have a posh a/c bar with fancy prices and another non a/c bar with less fancy prices.

Otherwise, subterfuge is called for!

wanderin_star · Dec 22nd, 2005, 19:23

After a few cups of 'special tea' try the 'special cola' as night cap - laced with generous amount of local rum.

freenote · Dec 22nd, 2005, 21:30

My all time favorite was the local coffee topped with a generous helping of old monk rum .Sometimes it is difficult to get this order across and the look of amazement when you poured the rum into the coffee was a sight to see but the resulting drink is truly a match made in heaven .

sudzindia · Jan 5th, 2006, 11:59

y is it illegal in kerala?

Nick-H · Jan 5th, 2006, 13:04

What about the Todi shops?

(although they look even less atractive than Tamil Nadu's Govt-owned 'wine shops')

Nick-H · Jan 5th, 2006, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudzindia

y is it illegal in kerala?

One might ask, given the damage to health and society caused by the stuff, why is it legal? ---anywhere!

Not that I am asking: just commenting that one might!

davyd · Jan 5th, 2006, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2cents

Selling or consuming alcohol is not illegal per se in Kerala.Its just that the norms for issuing license for selling alcoholic liquor is really strict and the annual fees so steep that few hotels possess them;so forget about beachside shacks.

Of course most restaurants in Kerala do not serve alcohol or serve something familiar yet unpleasant port vine for instance. Beach shacks serve everywhere special tea - policemen put the blind eye on this, it's their butter to government's bread.
However the crime rate in Kerala (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka as well) is on dramatical way up, so be extremely careful - unemployed youth from neighbouring to beach resorts fishing villages and as ever notorious autorickshaws may spoil holidays only if you don't stay at exclusive hotel or on charter tour.

keshav · Jan 5th, 2006, 18:58

We had no problem finding beer, or for that matter any alcohol, anywhere in Kerala. The problem is the price.

davyd · Jan 5th, 2006, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2cents

That's a pretty dire warning davyd.Did you have any personal experience of that sort?

yes, in Varkala i was assaulted by autorickshaw and 2 his friends locals, one old and one young. When I was moving my things from one hotel to another, just a 200-300 metres away I asked autorickshaw how much for two ways. He said 40Rs and I agreed. I was little bit longer because stucked at shallow stream with suitcase and asked the young man to help me. He asked 50 Rs - I did not agree and moved suticase over the stream myself, removing my shoes, socks and so on. Rickshaw wallah however became angry that instead of 15 minutes I was absent for 30 minutes and demanded 80Rs. I was shocked by greedyness of these people - they are ready to extortinate money by any means. When I refused to pay the young and the old friends of autorickshaw accused me in cheating, said I free to call police, because they will accuse me in cheating and so on. When I tried to make foto of them the young man hit me and warned I should not use camera, otherwise he will kill me (or beat me, I did not understand). they collectively threw my things on the road. It was remote place, among palms, away from main concrete roads - to carry all my luggage on sandy roads was impossible.
So I had no choice but to agree on their price, new demand came - I had to pay 80 Rs in advance. After some squabbling rickshaw agreed to deliver me to new hotel, I paid 80Rs and then happened most unlikely. We met hotel owner at gates and I said that I was assaulted by autorickshaw and his friends. The autowallah had to explain - his version did not satisfy hotel owner, who repeatedly asked me to call police and give my complain of assault and extortion. Autorickshaw wallah changed his mind, was frightened or probably his conscience awakened - he had beg me to accept extra 40Rs, I refused - money is yours, you deserves them. Such petty and not unusual story.

dhans · Jan 5th, 2006, 19:38

Just back from south india. Buying beer is not a problem in kerala (or karnataka, or tamil nadu or pondicherry). Prices vary from 33 rs (pondi) to 58 rs for a bottle of kingfisher. Wine shops are sometimes a bit seedy (alcohol ruins familiy state and life according to the warning on the bottles), but they happily sell you any amount you want.

Hans

Bigzero · Jan 5th, 2006, 19:45

davyd, sorry to hear about your experience. it must have really spoiled your holiday mood. i do think however that you missed a trick by not reporting to the police, after being physically assaulted.... from what i have heard, police takes foreign tourist's complaints on harassment, fleecing etc somewhat seriously.

Dec 19th, 2005, 05:51	#1
smileysally Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: leeds england Posts: 1	alcohol in kerala We were in GOA last year had a really good time. Particularly liked the beach shacks. We are planning to go to Kerala soon . Do they have the same type of shacks on the beach and can you get a COLD BEER.

Dec 19th, 2005, 09:52	#3
Wanderer22 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 463	Ah yes.... The special tea ! You drink it from a coffee mug so the foam is not too obvious. W22 Attached Thumbnails

Dec 19th, 2005, 17:17	#4
Serena Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bologna, Italy Posts: 282	Nice one Wanderer! My special tea Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://namasteindia.blogspot.com/

Dec 19th, 2005, 17:27	#5
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,019	Bars attached to hotels are legal. They normally have a posh a/c bar with fancy prices and another non a/c bar with less fancy prices. Otherwise, subterfuge is called for! __________________ www.nilgiris.asia your guide to the Nilgiris, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur

Jan 5th, 2006, 13:04	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,701	What about the Todi shops? (although they look even less atractive than Tamil Nadu's Govt-owned 'wine shops') __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 19th, 2005, 06:14	#2
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,554	Yes ,you can get a cold beer . It might be served in a teapot, or wrapped in newspaper and placed under the table, or you might have to sit at the back of the restaurant to consume it . Whatever the delivery method is , I know it will taste B****y lovely .

Dec 22nd, 2005, 19:23	#6
wanderin_star Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United kingdom Posts: 31	After a few cups of 'special tea' try the 'special cola' as night cap - laced with generous amount of local rum.

Dec 22nd, 2005, 21:30	#7
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,554	My all time favorite was the local coffee topped with a generous helping of old monk rum .Sometimes it is difficult to get this order across and the look of amazement when you poured the rum into the coffee was a sight to see but the resulting drink is truly a match made in heaven .

Jan 5th, 2006, 11:59	#8
sudzindia Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Malaysia Posts: 192	y is it illegal in kerala?

Jan 5th, 2006, 18:58	#12
keshav Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 60	We had no problem finding beer, or for that matter any alcohol, anywhere in Kerala. The problem is the price.

Jan 5th, 2006, 19:38	#14
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,588	Just back Just back from south india. Buying beer is not a problem in kerala (or karnataka, or tamil nadu or pondicherry). Prices vary from 33 rs (pondi) to 58 rs for a bottle of kingfisher. Wine shops are sometimes a bit seedy (alcohol ruins familiy state and life according to the warning on the bottles), but they happily sell you any amount you want. Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

Jan 5th, 2006, 19:45	#15
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,464	davyd, sorry to hear about your experience. it must have really spoiled your holiday mood. i do think however that you missed a trick by not reporting to the police, after being physically assaulted.... from what i have heard, police takes foreign tourist's complaints on harassment, fleecing etc somewhat seriously. __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

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