Chandigarh, June 17, 2025 — The Punjab Excise Department is planning a major upgrade of its liquor tracking system to fight rising cases of liquor smuggling in the state. The current system, which relies heavily on QR codes, has proven to be vulnerable, with smugglers reportedly bypassing it to supply illegal liquor.
Why the Overhaul?
The existing “track and trace” system places QR codes and excise labels on every liquor bottle to track them from the distillery to the consumer. These labels confirm that taxes and duties have been paid, and the QR code lets officials and even consumers verify the bottle’s authenticity through a mobile app.
However, many liquor bottles either reach customers without QR codes or with tampered ones — making it easy for bootleggers to smuggle and sell liquor illegally. This has led to both revenue losses and enforcement issues for the state.
What’s Changing?
The Excise Department has approached the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) to bring in a new vendor who will build a more secure, automated, and efficient system. The new system will use advanced technologies to track liquor more accurately — right up to the end consumer.
A senior official said, “The current system is outdated. We need a solution that’s faster, more secure, and tamper-proof.”
Who Will Execute It?
PIDB will lead the selection process for the new technology partner. A transaction advisor from their panel will help oversee the entire project. PIDB will also handle the official agreements and project handover.
Industry at a Glance
-
Punjab has 15 distilleries, 30 bottling plants, and 4 breweries.
-
These units produce Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), beer, and other spirits.
-
While most liquor is consumed within Punjab, a large portion is also shipped to other states and exported abroad.
Consumer Transparency Efforts
The department had earlier launched a mobile app allowing customers to scan QR codes and access bottle details like manufacturer, alcohol content, quantity, and manufacturing date. But due to tampering, these features haven’t been as effective as hoped.
The Bigger Picture
Officials say that the new system will not only help prevent smuggling but also improve tax collection and law enforcement. Despite some states like Maharashtra already making similar moves, Punjab’s overhaul is being closely watched due to the scale of its liquor production and distribution.
