The Kerala Bar Hotels Association & Anr vs State Of Kerala And Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the Kerala High Court's decision allowing only Five Star hotels to serve alcohol, reversing the Single Judge's ruling that permitted Four Star and Heritage hotels to obtain FL-3 licenses. The Court found the exclusion of these hotels to be justified under the Abkari Act, 1077, particularly in light of the state's efforts to combat alcohol addiction, as outlined in Article 14 of the Constitution. The judgment emphasized the need for stringent regulations in the context of Kerala's high alcohol consumption rates, thereby affirming the state's policy decisions regarding liquor licensing.