Kollam, Monday 08 June 2009: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has called upon Excise Department personnel to work with total dedication to eliminate spirit smuggling and hooch trading.

He was inaugurating a public meeting here, organised in connection with the launch of the three-day 30th State conference of the Kerala State Excise Staff Association.

Kerala Chief Minister said liquor consumption had increased in the State. Kerala was among the States that accounted for the largest liquor consumption in the country.
This had prompted spirit smugglers and hooch traders to exploit the situation.

However, the situation during the last three years of the LDF government rule was better than earlier. This was on account of corruption-free administration in the State, he said. He said under the present government, the Excise personnel were dedicated to making the State hooch- and spirit-free.

The Chief Minister said the discrimination meted out to Excise personnel in pay revision would be rectified. He said this would be done in consultation with the Excise Minister.