In Jaipur, the excise department is considering extending liquor store operating hours to 10 PM, up from the current 8 PM closure time. This proposal was discussed in a recent meeting with stakeholders to finalize next year’s excise and prohibition policy. Liquor traders have long requested an extension to the sales hours, citing that neighboring states close liquor stores at 10 PM, and that illegal sales continue after 8 PM when shops are supposed to close.
Nilesh Mevara, president of the Raj Liquor Welfare Society, highlighted that the extension would help curb illegal alcohol sales after hours.
Other demands from liquor traders include allocating liquor stock in line with the annual license fee (ALF) from April to ensure smooth operations at the start of the financial year. They also want a consistent supply of liquor throughout the year, with availability matching demand.
Additionally, traders have requested that liquor shop licenses be renewed regularly and for profit margins on all liquor categories (IMFL, beer, RM, and country liquor) to be increased to at least 25%. A reduction in the number of liquor stores in urban areas is also being suggested to address public concerns. There is also a proposal to integrate additional excise duty on beer into the overall guarantee amount and merge excise fees with excise duty.
After experiencing economic losses over the past four years, the excise department is expecting significant changes in this year’s policy. Last year, the department failed to meet its revenue target of Rs 17,220 crore, with no growth in revenue over the past two years.
