New Haryana Excise Policy Brings Sweeping Reforms

The new excise policy of Haryana has introduced sweeping structural reforms—ranging from licensing procedures to retail operations-with a projected revenue target of Rs 14,064 crore for FY 2026. A strong focus has been placed on accountability, public health, and streamlined governance.

In a landmark move under its new excise policy, the government has prohibited the operation of liquor sub-vends in villages with a population of 500 or less. This step, aimed at promoting responsible retailing and addressing public sensitivities, will lead to the closure of 152 existing sub-vends across the state. The revised policy will be in effect from 12 June 2025 to 31 March 2027, spanning 21.5 months, after which excise policy cycles will align with the April–March financial year.

All forms of liquor advertising, even within licensed zones, have been explicitly banned. Violators will face stringent penalties—Rs 1 lakh for the first offence, Rs 2 lakh for the second, and Rs 3 lakh for the third—with repeat violations treated as major breaches that may result in zone cancellation.

Urban retail liquor vends will now be barred from opening beyond  4 am, a change from the earlier 8 am window. Rules governing L-52 licences (for on-premise consumption) have been tightened to curb misuse.

The process for acquiring temporary event licences (L-12A and L-12A-C) has been simplified. In particular, unregistered venues such as banquet halls in cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panchkula will face higher one-day licence fees to encourage registration and regulatory oversight.

Additionally, the policy mandates that all retail vends and sub-vends must prominently display health warnings, including messages such as “Consumption of Alcohol is Injurious to Health” and “Do Not Drink and Drive”, reinforcing the state's push toward responsible consumption and public awareness.