Being one of the greatest producers of liquor around the world, India manufactures 65% of the liquor and imports about 7% of liquor in the world, and this data pertains only to the recorded liquor production.
The production, sale, and distribution pursue a complicated duty structure differing from state to state. The rate of taxes levied on imported liquor lies somewhere between 100% to 500%. And since, revenue from liquor trade is one of the prominent sources of revenue for the Govt. it ignores the standpoint of public health while framing its taxation policies, and bases its policy of taxation not on liquor consumption rather the amount of additional revenue it requires.
Let’s have a look at the Liquor Policy of a few states and how much liquor can a person stock at home:
Delhi
Delhi excise rules do not permit a person to stock more than 18 litres of liquor/ wine/cider/alcopop/beer and not more than 9 litres of Indian and foreign alcohol i.e. rum, whiskey, vodka, gin at home or for parties. Those who are coming into Delhi from another state in India can only carry 1 litre of any type of alcohol and any person coming from outside India can carry 2 litres of liquor.
Punjab
Here a family unit can stock up to 2 bottles of IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor); 2 bottles of imported alcohol of any size (1 litre or 5 liters); 1 case of beer (650 ml for each bottle); 2 bottles of the nation made alcohol and of brandy. Those who want to go beyond this can get an L-50 with an yearly expense of Rs 1,000 and lifetime charge of Rs 10,000.
Haryana
Here people can stock 6 bottles (750 ml each) of country alcohol; 18 bottles (750 ml) of IMFL alcohol, of which 6 bottles can be of Imported Foreign Liquor; 6 bottles (750 ml) of rum; 12 bottles (650 ml) of beer; 6 bottles (750 ml) of gin/cider/vodka and 12 bottles of wine. For those insatiate souls private ownership can be gotten by filling up the L-50 form for Rs 200 (for a year) and Rs 2,000 (lifetime charge).
Rajasthan
The people of Rajasthan can stock up to 9 liters or 12 bottles of IMFL.
Separate provision is there for people who want to organize parties. For residential parties you are required to get a license that is for Rs 2,000 and if it’s a business party, you will be required to put in some taxes as well, the rate has been set at Rs 10,000 plus taxes.
Goa
The hot favorite tourist destination permits 24 bottles of beer; 12 containers of IMFL alcohol; 6 bottles of rectified spirit and denatured spirit at home; 18 bottles of country alcohol.
However, the punishment for defaulters is very stringent in Goa and as per the excise act the punishment is either rigorous imprisonment up to a minimum of 6 months extendable up to 7 years, with or without fine.
There are also some states which have banned most of the liquor consumption namely Gujarat (completely dry state), Bihar, Nagaland, Manipur, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
Legal Age for Liquor Consumption In Different States of India:
7 States With 18 as the Legal Age for Liquor Consumption
Andaman Nicobar islands
Kerala
Himachal Pradesh
Pondicherry
Mizoram
Sikkim
Rajasthan
18 States With 21 as the Legal Age for Liquor Consumption
Chhattisgarh
Arunachal Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Goa
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Jammu and Kashmir
Daman and Diu
Madhya Pradesh
Orissa
Jharkhand
Tamil Nadu
Karnataka
Uttarakhand
Tripura
Telangana
West Bengal
Uttar Pradesh
5 States With 25 as the Legal Age for Liquor Consumption
Chandigarh
Haryana
Delhi
Punjab
Meghalaya
Dry Days in India
National Holidays:
Republic Day – 26 January
Gandhi Jayanti – 2 October
Independence Day – 15 August
Dry days are observed in India around Elections, Voting Day and Major Festivals.
Also, according to a law passed in 2017, consumption of alcohol in an eatery/bar/restaurant within 500 meters of a national highway is not permitted.
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