Home bar culture growing in Chandigarh

The home bar culture is on the rise in Chandigarh, with a growing number of residents opting to establish their own home bars and seeking licenses for this purpose. In the current financial year, 29 individuals have already submitted applications for home bar licenses, and over the past two years, more than 100 people have applied for similar licenses.

According to a high-ranking official from the Excise and Taxation Department of Chandigarh, the trend has shifted significantly since the pre-Covid era. Previously, only a few applications (about two or three) were received annually for the installation of home bars in Chandigarh. However, the situation has evolved, and now more individuals are expressing interest in setting up such personal drinking spaces.

The excise department official clarified that residents are permitted to store a maximum quantity of alcoholic beverages for personal consumption in their homes in Chandigarh. Specifically, the allowance includes up to 12 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) or Indian Foreign Liquor (IFL), each with a volume of 750 ml, as well as 36 bottles of 650 ml beer and 12 bottles of 750 ml wine.

For the 2023-2024 financial year, acquiring an L-50 license for operating a home bar costs Rs. 2,000 in Chandigarh. Furthermore, a lifetime L-50 license can be obtained in the union territory for a fee of Rs. 10,000. Upon obtaining this license, the possession limits will be expanded to encompass a total of 36 bottles of IMFL/IFL (each with a volume of 750 ml), 72 bottles of 650 ml beer, and 36 bottles of 750 ml wine.