Keeping liquor at home? You may need to get a license in Uttar Pradesh

25-01-2021

If you like to maintain a personal bar or even keep a handsome amount of liquor at home in Uttar Pradesh, then you may need to get a license as mandated by the state government. According to the revised excise guidelines in Uttar Pradesh, a person will have to obtain a license to purchase, transport or keep in private possession liquor in excess of the prescribed retail limit. It should be noted that the limit of purchasing, transport or private possession of liquor has been fixed at only 6 litres of alcohol per person. In order to consume more liquor than this, procuring a license from the Excise Department has been made mandatory. Those having private bars at home and keeping liquor more than the prescribed limit for personal consumption will have to obtain a license by paying Rs 12,000 annually and a security deposit of Rs 51,000. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has hiked the license fees for retailers by 7.5 per cent which is expected to increase the price for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). A bottle of 750 ml will be costlier by Rs 20 to 40, depending on the brand. To encourage low-alcohol beverages, the new policy has reduced the excise duty on beer. The government has also exempted excise duty for five years for those making wine within the state with locally-produced fruits. The decisions by the UP government have been taken to cover up the excise revenue losses incurred during the Covid-induced lockdown.