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Haryana Approves Sweeping Excise Policy with Stricter Liquor Controls

The 2025–27 policy enforces closures of sub-vends in small villages, doubles distance requirements near sensitive areas, and introduces higher duties to boost revenue.

The move comes after years of citizen complaints, investigative reports by HT, and widespread regulatory violations—especially in Gurugram and Faridabad—where ahatas were found hosting unlicensed live shows, operating commercial kitchens, expanding into multi-storey entertainment spaces. (PARVEEN KUMAR/HT)
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Haryana chief minister Nayab Saini chairs a cabinet meeting in Chandigarh on Monday. (ANI)
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Overview

  • The Haryana Cabinet approved the 2025–27 Excise Policy, effective June 12, 2025, introducing major reforms to regulate liquor sales and strengthen compliance.
  • Liquor sub-vends in villages with populations under 500 will be shut down, affecting 152 shops across over 700 villages statewide.
  • Minimum distance requirements for liquor shops near schools, colleges, religious sites, and bus stands have been doubled from 75 to 150 metres.
  • Stricter controls on drinking areas (ahatas) include a size cap of 1,000 square metres, tiered licence fees by district, and bans on live performances.
  • Excise duties on Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country liquor have been increased by 5–10% to support a revenue target exceeding ₹12,000 crore.