Kochi, Oct 30 (ANI): Kerala High court on Thursday upheld the state government's ban on liquor in the state. The state government had earlier put a ban on bars serving liquor in the state and has said that only bars in four and five star hotels would still be permitted to function, effectively sealing the fate of at least 700 bars in the state for now. Through the abkari policy, the state government had limited sale of liquor to five-star bar hotels and government-run retail outlets. Bar owners in Kerala had earlier approached the court challenging the government's decision to close over 700 bar hotels in the state, maintaining that it was discriminatory.