Ladakh Liberalizes Liquor Sales Policy

India — Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has approved a new excise policy aimed at liberalizing liquor sales, boosting tourism, and combating drug dependence. The policy permits the sale of hard liquor through retail vends, guest houses, and homestays, expanding availability to four new districts (Nubra, Changthang, Sham, and Zanskar). The number of liquor vends will increase from 2 to 20 via e-auction, and micro-breweries are now permitted. The policy also rationalizes excise duty rates, simplifies licensing procedures by reducing required documents from 16 to 6, and allows manufacturers to undertake wholesale distribution. To optimize revenue, the annual fee for wholesale licenses has increased, and base prices for retail vends have been revised, though retailers' profit margins have been reduced. Environmental safeguards include prohibiting plastic bottles for liquor sales. The policy, developed after consultations with various civil society groups, aims to create a transparent, accountable, and technology-driven excise framework.