Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 9 (PTI) The Keralam Excise Department has cancelled the approval for an FL-7 bar licence to operate the Earth Lounge Bar at Cochin International Airport, following a state government directive requiring all new licence applications to be considered under the 2026-27 liquor policy.
An order cancelling the approval was issued on Sunday by Additional Excise Commissioner (Enforcement) Jayasankar R, who holds the additional charge of Excise Commissioner, official sources said here on Monday.
The cancellation comes amid a controversy over the grant of bar licences at the airport and shortly after former Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao was transferred from the post.
The department had earlier approved the issuance of an FL-7 licence to a private hotel group located opposite the airport at Nedumbassery in Ernakulam district.
The company had submitted its application on June 23, 2026, seeking permission to operate the Earth Lounge Bar on the second floor of Terminal 3.
The approval was granted subject to payment of an annual licence fee of Rs 2 lakh.
The applicant subsequently remitted the amount to the government treasury. However, a communication issued by the Taxes Department on November 3 stated that applications for new FL-7 licences should be considered only in accordance with the guidelines of the 2026-27 liquor policy.
It directed that no new liquor licences should be issued without prior government approval.
The Excise Department said the earlier approval did not entitle the establishment to commence operations, as a final licence was required under Rule 13B(3) of the Foreign Liquor Rules.
The applicant is eligible for a refund of the Rs 2 lakh licence fee upon submitting an online request through the e-Treasury portal.
The company can also submit a fresh application once the government announces its new liquor policy, subject to the applicable rules and conditions.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)