Gujarat eases liquor rules at GIFT City

The Gujarat government has eased liquor permit rules within the GIFT City campus in Gandhinagar in order to boost ease of doing business. Through a notification issued on April 15, the Home Department amended clauses from its earlier December 2023 order under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, relaxing liquor consumption norms for employees of GIFT City and visitors.

Employees can directly submit Form A-1 to an authorised officer, appointed by the managing director of GIFT City, without requiring a ‘recommending officer’ such as the company’s HR head or PRO. Once verified, a liquor access permit card will be issued and shared with both the authorised person and the Superintendent of Prohibition and Excise. These permit holding employees can also nominate up to five visitors at a time using Form A-2, provided they accompany the guests in designated wine and dine areas.

Additionally, both regular and temporary permit holders can now be part of ‘group permits’ within the campus. Officials say these steps are part of a broader strategy to create a more liberal and business-friendly environment at GIFT City while ensuring continued regulatory oversight.