UP allows Beer shops to have drinking space

Under Uttar Pradesh’s new excise policy for the upcoming fiscal year, effective from April 1, 2024, beer vends in the state will be eligible to apply for an exclusive drinking area.

To let people consume the brew in their premises, the owner of vend is required to have 100 sq ft space in the circumference of 20 meter of the shop and the annual license fee will be Rs 5,000 for this facility. This initiative is taken to stop drinking by the roadside or in vehicles. The vend, however, will not be allowed to sell food etc.

Also, in the beer segment, the provision of a monthly minimum guarantee quota, has been removed on the demand by the beer industry, which had cited losses due to various circumstances, including weather.

Liquor shop sale timings would also be extended by an hour, till 11pm on Christmas eve on 24th December as well as New Year’s Eve on 31st December.