Uttarakhand bans liquor shops near religious sites

The Uttarakhand government has announced a major revision in its excise policy for 2025-26, mandating the closure of liquor shops near religious sites. The decision, taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on March 3, aims to address public sensitivities while strengthening regulations on liquor sales. 

According to Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, liquor shop licences will be reassessed in line with the new policy. A government order will soon clarify the definition of religious areas and specify the permissible distance for liquor sales. Currently, liquor shops are prohibited within a seven-kilometre radius of Har Ki Pauri and the Rishikesh Municipal Council, as well as in the Char Dham circuit and Hemkund Sahib. 

The revised excise policy introduces a more transparent allotment system for liquor shops, increasing opportunities for local residents to engage in self-employment within the industry. Additionally, bulk liquor licences will now be exclusively granted to Uttarakhand residents, ensuring economic benefits for locals. 

To further support local farmers, the policy provides them with an additional platform to sell their produce to distilleries. The government has also abolished sub-shops and the metro liquor sales system. Strict measures have been introduced to regulate liquor pricing, including provisions to cancel licences of shops selling above the maximum retail price (MRP). “MRP rules will also apply to departmental stores to protect consumer rights,” a government statement said.

In a major initiative to boost the farming and horticulture sectors, wineries in hill states will be exempt from excise duty for 15 years if they produce wines using locally grown fruits. Investment in the liquor industry is being encouraged through reduced export duties, while malt and spirit industries in hill areas will receive special incentives. 

With liquor revenue steadily increasing, the excise department has set a revenue target of ₹5,060 crore for 2025-26. In the 2023-24 financial year, revenue reached ₹4,038.69 crore, surpassing the target of ₹4,000 crore. For 2024-25, collections have already exceeded ₹4,000 crore against the target of ₹4,439 crore.