License for your bar at home if you reside in UP. Find out more

An individual will require a permit now to purchase, possess or even transport liquor more than the allowed limit. The license fee will cost Rs.12,000 per year plus a security deposit of Rs 51, 000 submitted to the local District Excise Officer.

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has recently announced a provision in its excise policy 2021-2022. According to this policy, people will now need a personal permit if they want to keep liquor quantity that is more than permitted. Officials who have come up with this policy says this is a step for harassment complaints and vendetta against people acquiring mini-bars at homes.

An individual will require a permit now to purchase, possess or even transport liquor more than the allowed limit. The license fee will cost Rs.12,000 per year plus a security deposit of Rs 51, 000 submitted to the local District Excise Officer.

 What was the reason behind this introduction of new provision?

 The absence of the new law made Uttar Pradesh break the law of the limit of personal consumption of liquor. It is important to note that states like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh already have this provision.

A senior government official said, “The demands from industries, businessmen, lawyers, were always there and they wanted to keep a mini-bar in their homes. Since there was a set limit of quantity, people used to make complaints against such people, which led to prosecution cases also.” On average, possession of 4-5 litres of liquor is allowed, depending on its strength. The same limit was set a long ago in the state.

 The new provision was much-demanded as it will allow people to maintain more liquor than the prescribed limit and because nearby states already have it since long.