Keralam Civil Supplies dept mandates mechanism under Collectors to ensure multiplexes provide free drinking water

Officials inspecting a food stall at a multiplex at a mall in Kochi on September 5 | Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin Keralam’s Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has entrusted the District Collectors to set up a regular monitoring system to ensure that multiplexes provided uninterrupted supply of free RO-filtered drinking water to all customers during business hours.The direction was issued after inspections based on complaints of overpricing of food and beverages in multiplexes found the non-availability of free drinking water to theatre-goers. It was also revealed that notices, stating that free drinking water is available, were not conspicuously displayed.“The government has told the District Collectors to have a regular mechanism instead of acting only when complaints related to the non-availability of free drinking water and failure to display the price of various items sold in multiplexes arise occasionally,” Anoop Jacob, Minister for Food and Supplies, told The Hindu.He said that District Supply Officers have been told to file cases against those violating the norms. “We have authorised them to file cases before the consumer courts concerned. Stringent action will be taken against cinema halls that failed to provide free drinking water to the public,” he said.On fair pricingOn the possibility of regulating the exorbitant prices of food and beverages sold in cinema halls, Mr. Jacob said that his department has sought opinion from the Law Department on the contentious issue.A joint inspection carried out by a special squad comprising officials of the Departments of Civil Supplies, Legal Metrology and Food Safety in Kochi on Saturday found that a 45 g popcorn (butter salt) was sold at ₹330 while the medium (80 g) and large (100 g) sizes were sold at ₹390 and ₹450 respectively. A jumbo bucket (240 g) was priced at ₹540.A litre of bottled drinking water was sold at ₹90 in a multiplex. The maximum retail price recorded in the bottle was ₹100. Asked about the increase in price for bottled water, a representative of the multiplex told the officials that it contained minerals.The inspections revealed that there was no drinking water provided to the movie-goers at the multiplex, despite having more than 10 screens. An official of the Department of Civil Supplies Department said that directions have been issued to install water kiosks conspicuously near the screens. The multiplex representatives said that they have not barred people from bringing water and the prices of food and beverages were displayed as per the norms.D. B. Binu, president of the Ernakulam DIstrict Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, recalled its earlier order directing a multiplex firm to display notice boards at appropriate places on its premises informing customers of the availability of free drinking water. The cinema halls have to maintain the drinking water facility in a clean and hygienic manner, and conspicuous notice boards shall be displayed informing the customers about the availability of free RO-filtered drinking water, he said. Published - September 08, 2026 11:58 am IST