56A. [ For allowing consumption of certain preparations in business premises, for the manufacture and stocking of such preparations, etc. [Inserted by Section 31 of Act 10 of 1967.]
(1)Whoever being a chemist, druggist, apothecary or keeper of a dispensary or Vaidyasala-(a)allows any preparation containing liquor or intoxicating drug to be consumed in his business premises otherwise than for the bona fide treatment, mitigation or prevention of any disease; or(b)manufactures or stocks or causes to be manufactured or stocked any such preparation, other than a bona fide medicinal preparation, within the premises under his control;shall, [on conviction before a competent court, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, and with fine which shall not less than fifty thousand rupees.](2)Whoever consumes any preparation containing liquor or intoxicating drug, which is not a bona fide medicinal preparation, in any premises referred to in sub-section (1) shall, on conviction before a Magistrate be punished with fine which may extend to [five thousand rupees.] [Substituted for the words 'five hundred rupees' by Act 16 of 1997 with effect from 3-6-1997.]Explanation. - For the purposes of this section, "Bona fide medicinal preparation" shall mean any medicinal preparation-(a)manufactured according to a formula prescribed in a pharmacopoeia approved by the Government of India or the Government of Kerala, or(b)manufactured according to a formula approved by the Government of Kerala in respect of patent and proprietory medicinal preparations; or(c)approved as a bona fide medicinal preparation by the Expert Committee appointed under section 68A].
