Noida to get 239 composite liquor vends

The Uttar Pradesh excise department has invited 239 applicants for composite liquor vends in Noida for the next fiscal year, with the new liquor policy integrating beer and IMFL shops in the state, as per media reports.

Noida currently has 146 IMFL shops, 140 beer shops, 234 country liquor shops, 29 premium liquor vends and 27 model shops. The new policy has, for the first time, introduced composite shops in which beer and IMFL will be sold together. While model shops will remain as they are, country liquor shops will have the option to upgrade to composite by adding a beer counter.

After a six-year gap, fresh applications are now being accepted for the liquor business, allowing new players to enter the market. During the past six years, existing licences were only renewed, but these will now expire on March 31 and composite shops have been invited to apply through the e-lottery system that is open until February 27. The first lottery phase will be drawn on March 6.

"The allotment process for 501 liquor shops began on Feb 14. Applications will be accepted from Feb 17 to 27, and the first phase of the e-lottery will be drawn on March 6," district excise officer Subodh Kumar Srivastava told TOI.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Excise Policy for the financial year 2025-26, with several key changes including the introduction of e-lottery system for the allocation of liquor and 'Bhang' (cannabis) shops. Under the new policy, the total number of liquor shops in Noida has been reduced from 353 to 501. Besides 239 composite liquor vends, the district will have 234 country liquor shops, 27 model shops and one bhang shop. “All country liquor shops, composite shops, model shops, and cannabis shops in the state will be allocated through an e-lottery system instead of the renewal process followed earlier," Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal told media persons.

Agarwal said that under the new system, an applicant can submit only one application, and no individual will be allotted more than two shops across the state. Additionally, the department will also renew licences for the 29 premium liquor vends in the city.

The new policy has significantly raised application fees, in some cases doubling the previous rates. The application fees range from ₹40,000 to ₹65,000 for country liquor shops, ₹55,000 to ₹90,000 for composite shops and ₹60,000 to ₹1 lakh for model shops, and these are non-refundable. Last year, application fees ranged from ₹35,000 to ₹60,000. The increase is expected to generate substantial revenue for the excise department. "This time, the application fee has been increased so that only those who are genuinely interested in the business participate," Srivastava said.

The government has retained the existing operating hours for liquor shops, i.e., 10 am to 10 pm. Additionally, the locations of liquor shops may change once the new licences are issued, the minister said.