Excise Department is one of the oldest Departments in the State. It’s establishment dates back to the reign of Maharajas of Travancore. Excise Department, at that time, was a comprehensive name given collectively to the Governmental agencies for the administration of the collection of revenue from Salt, Tobacco, Abkari and Customs. The work was supervised and controlled by the “Piravagai” Department attached to the Huzur Cutchery. The Division Peishkars supervised the collection of revenue and administered the laws and regulations. The management of the Department was vested in the Dewan. In 1083 ME  (1907-08), Excise Department was reorganized. The State of Travancore, for the purpose of Excise administration was then divided in 4 Division. Each Division was subdivided into Circles and the Circles were divided into Ranges. Each Division was under the command of an Assistant Excise Commissioner. The Administrative Head of the Excise Department was the Excise Commissioner. Even after the reorganization of the State of Kerala in 1956, the same system of administration is retained. However the control over Salt, Tobacco and Customs were lifted from the Excise Department. The Department is now administering laws related to Liquor, Medicinal Preparations containing liquor and Narcotic Drugs only. The present structure of the Department is given at the end.