The implementation of the liquor policy in Delhi led to figures like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh going to jail. Later, the Delhi government had to reverse this policy. Now, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has approved a new liquor policy. Under this new policy, premium liquor brands will also be available at railway and metro stations. Moreover, the license fees for obtaining liquor shops have been increased. Criticizing the plan to sell alcohol at railway and metro stations, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has questioned whether this is the way to making Uttar Pradesh a state with a 1 trillion economy.
The liquor policy introduced for the fiscal year 2024-25 includes an increase in the license fees, requiring an additional 10% payment for obtaining a license. For country liquor, the license fee has been raised to Rs. 254 per liter, and the duty has been increased from Rs. 30 to Rs. 32 per liter. The new policy also stipulates that the police will no longer have the authority to seal any wholesale or retail liquor store.
Action can be taken against a liquor store, only after obtaining permission from the district magistrate. If agencies or officers other than those specified by the excise department officials and the district magistrates issuing licenses conduct raids on shops selling liquor, beer, or bhang, it is mandatory to have the incident video-recorded.
Moreover, liquor can be served until midnight at weddings, parties, and other events. If small beer shops have a separate space of at least 100 square meters, they can arrange seating for people by paying an additional fee of 5,000 rupees. The district excise officer will grant permission for this upon approval from the district magistrate.
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