In a bid to tackle the growing issue of plastic waste, the Kerala government has announced a new bottle-return initiative for liquor bottles sold at its Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) outlets.

Starting with a pilot project in September, an additional Rs 20 will be charged on liquor sold in both plastic and glass bottles. The amount will be refunded when customers return the bottles to the outlet, the excise department said.

Excise Minister MB Rajesh clarified that this Rs 20 should not be seen as an extra charge, but rather an investment in responsible consumption. A QR code will be affixed on each bottle to facilitate tracking and refunds.

Of the 70 crore liquor bottles sold annually in Kerala, 80 per cent are plastic. “This will help reduce the number of bottles dumped on the streets,” the minister said. As part of a broader sustainability push, the department has also decided that all liquor priced above Rs 800 will now be sold only in glass bottles.

The project, launched in partnership with Clean Kerala Company, will begin in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. The state drew inspiration from Tamil Nadu, where a similar bottle-return system has already been implemented successfully.

Meanwhile, the excise department is also set to open Bevco’s first-ever super premium outlet in Thrissur on August 5. These outlets will stock foreign liquor priced above Rs 900, with plans to launch one such outlet in every district.

– Ends

Tune In