Supreme Court has upheld the liquor ban in Kerala in bars and restaurants citing concern for health of the public. Now the sale of liquor is restricted only to five star bars. On March 31, this year, the Kerala High Court had also upheld the state government's new policy on liquor. While upholding the ban, the Supreme Court also dismissed a batch of petitions filed by Hotel Bars Association challenging the new excise policy which confines bar licenses only to five-star hotels.