Kerala Tipples
Much rage about some recent Mohanlal adverts that purport to encourage whisky drinking even if they are supposedly for banana chips: alcohol advertising being banned in Kerala.
Kerala has an alcohol problem compared to the rest of India: the average Kerala resident accounts for 8.3 litres of liquor every year – the highest in India, and nearly three times the national average. This from a state with 1/3 muslim who “presumably” don’t drink.
Like all things in Kerala, verybody is taking sides and nobody is laughing. When it comes to social and political issues, Keralites tend to suffer from a sense of humour bypass.
The BBC website has some coverage.
Our advice: buy your spirits in duty free because what the ads don’t tell you is that Keralite spirits tend to be pretty yucky!
Friendly Kerala
Of all the states in India, Kerala is one of the most friendly and in political terms the most exotic. Their politics is every bit as spicy hot as the kerala fish curry.
In spite of the Daily Telegraph article which relates life after the judicial murder of Saddam Hussein (God rot his soul). Politics rarely seems to spill over into western visitors.
Keralites tend to stir over just about anything. Even management strike. Government workers strike. Sometimes bus drivers strike followed by bus travellers.
For visitors this impassioned ideological approach is a charming counter to the otherwise laid back tropical Kerala life style