UP introduces new liquor law: What is a personal bar permit and why is state mandating one for its residents?
The new excise policy will mandate individuals to procure a personal bar license at an annual cost of Rs 12,000 per year along with a security deposit of Rs 51,000 to exceed the current stock limits.
Uttar Pradesh residents purchasing liquor at a wine shop in Lucknow. | Photo Credit: PTI
Key Highlights
- The large majority of Indian states already have pre-existing laws governing how much liquor an individual can store in their homes for personal consumption
- Maharashtra, interestingly, has some of the most stringent laws pertaining to liquor consumption at home
- Prior to the order, there was no provision enabling individuals to stock up on booze beyond the permitted limit which meant that if one did, he/she would be breaking the law
Residents of Uttar Pradesh who have grown used to having a ready stock of alcohol in their homes may now need to secure a special license from the state government to do so. A recent notification from the state's excise department has notified that anybody seeking to store more than the permissible amount of alcohol in their homes will need to dole out a sum to buy a personal bar permit if they are to avoid infringing upon the law.
The order has caused quite a stir in Uttar Pradesh prompting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to clarify, “We cannot forcefully impose something but whatever will be in the interest of the state, we will take those steps,” adding that the new provision will help “check liquor smuggling.”
The large majority of Indian states already have pre-existing laws governing how much liquor an individual can store in their homes for personal consumption. These amounts vary quite significantly from state to state. However, in some states, if one wishes to stock up beyond the permitted limits, a special license is required.
For instance, in Delhi, an individual can stock no more than 18 litres of beer, wine, cider and an additional 9 litres of Indian or foreign liquor (rum, whiskey, gin, vodka) to be used for personal consumption or gatherings at home. If one wants to store any more than this, he/she will need to secure an L49 license from the state's excise department at a reported cost of Rs 2000.
In Punjab, the permissible quantities are lower than in the nation's capital but individuals can always purchase an L50 license for an annual fee of Rs 1000 or a single lifetime fee of Rs 10,000 to stock more.
Maharashtra, interestingly, has some of the most stringent laws pertaining to liquor consumption at home. Here, anyone over the legal drinking age (25) requires a license to purchase, possess or consume Indian or foreign liquor regardless of the quantity. Securing a permit will allow an individual to stock a maximum of 12 units (one unit amounts to 1 litre for spirits and roughly 220ml for beer/wine ) of alcohol.
Maharashtra also prohibits bringing in alcohol from other states. It is worth noting though, that the law is, typically, only enforced once a complaint has been issued. Nevertheless, if you do have alcohol at home and you haven't procured a license from the state's excise department, you are effectively in violation of the law.
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What does the UP provision say?
Under Uttar Pradesh's excise laws (February 2010), an individual can have a maximum of 1.5 litres of country-made alcohol, 6 litres of foreign liquor or Indian-made liquor, 6 litres of liquor bought overseas, 3 litres of wine, and 7.8 litres of beer.
The new excise policy introduced for 2021-22 will mandate individuals to procure a personal bar license at an annual cost of Rs 12,000 per year along with a security deposit of Rs 51,000 to exceed the current stock limits. Prior to the order, there was no provision enabling individuals to stock up on booze beyond the permitted limit which meant that if one did, he/she would be breaking the law.
According to some reports, the state expects to draw in additional excise revenue of roughly Rs 29,000 crore this year on the back of the new provision with officials hopeful of reaching a target of Rs 35,000 crore next year.