Kerala bars told to check Aadhaar before serving anyone who looks under 23

30 October 2026

Excise Minister M Liju has directed bar owners to verify the age of customers who appear to be under 23 before serving liquor. An Aadhaar card or another valid age-proof document must be asked for. The minister said the ban on serving liquor to anyone below the prescribed age must be enforced strictly, and that establishments that break the rule will face action. Responsibility for the check rests with the bar owner. The direction came after a car crash in Kochi in which three students on a scooter were killed by a 19-year-old driver. Kerala's minimum age for being served liquor is 23, set under the Abkari Act.