If you live in Maharashtra, February will have more alcohol bans than usual. Due to religious festivals and local body elections, the state will observe up to five dry days this month. Some of these bans apply across the entire state, while others are limited to select districts.
Here’s a clear breakdown so you can plan ahead.
Statewide Dry Days in February
The Maharashtra government has announced a complete ban on alcohol sales across the state on the following three days:
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Sunday, February 15 – Mahashivratri
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Thursday, February 19 – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti (State holiday)
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Monday, February 23 – Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
On these days, all liquor shops, bars, and permit rooms will remain closed statewide.
Extra Dry Days Due to Local Elections
Apart from the statewide bans, 12 districts will observe two additional dry days because of Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
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Friday, February 7 – Polling day
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Sunday, February 9 – Vote counting day
These restrictions apply only in the election-affected districts.
Districts Likely to Be Affected
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Raigad
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Ratnagiri
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Sindhudurg
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Pune
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Satara
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Sangli
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Kolhapur
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Solapur
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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
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Dharashiv
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Latur
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Parbhani
Note: The Election Commission is yet to issue a formal notification on liquor bans in these districts.
Why These Elections Matter
This is a major democratic exercise involving around 2.09 crore voters, including over 1 crore women. Voting will be held at 25,482 polling stations.
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431 Zilla Parishad members to be elected
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1,462 Panchayat Samiti members to be elected
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431 Panchayat seats reserved for women
Each voter will cast two votes—one for the Zilla Parishad and one for the Panchayat Samiti. The Model Code of Conduct will remain in force until results are declared on February 9.
Important Reminder
During all dry days:
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Liquor shops, bars, and permit rooms will stay closed
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Public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited
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Violations can lead to legal action
Plan responsibly and stay informed.
The Aabkari(Abkari) Times magazine occupies a unique niche in the Indian media landscape. As the only Hindi monthly magazine dedicated to alcohol, liquor, excise, and allied industries, it caters to a specific audience with a specialized knowledge base.
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