The Haryana Council of Ministers announced a new liquor policy on May 5, 2025 for nearly two years. The new Haryana liquor policy will be effective from June 2025 to May 2027. This new policy not only signals a shift from the current practice of annual revisions but also marks the government’s first move toward aligning liquor regulations with the April-to-March financial year. So, here’s everything you need to know about Haryana’s latest liquor policy.
152 Sub-Vends To Cease Operations
Officials stated that this move will directly affect rural communities with a population of 500 or less. This is because Haryana’s new liquor policy will shut down 152 sub-vends operating in small communities. The move is part of the government’s effort to promote responsible retailing and tackle social issues, particularly in rural areas.
However, that doesn’t mean that the liquor policy has been lenient towards urban communities. This policy has mandated early closures of vends – they’ll be required to shut down by 4 AM instead of the 8 AM deadline.
Tavern Rules: Enclosed Premises And No Live Entertainment
Not just that, but ahatas (taverns) will also be mandated to operate from enclosed premises that have been approved by the excise department. These taverns should also not be visible to the passers-by. Moreover, under the new policy, live singing and dancing will be strictly prohibited in these taverns. This is to ensure a safe, responsible, and regulated drinking environment.
The new Haryana liquor policy will also levy additional fees for opening an ahata. A fee of 4% of the license fee will be levied in Gurugram, 3% in Faridabad, Sonepat and Panchkula and 1% in other districts for the same. There was no area limit for ahatas in the previous policy, however, there is a limit of 1000 square meters for ahatas under the new policy.
Also Read: Legal Age of Drinking In India: A Comprehensive Guide
Liquor Shops Further Away From Schools, Colleges, And National Highways
The Haryana Council of Ministers also decided under the new policy that liquor shops will now be at least 150 meters away from bus stands, school and colleges, and religious places. This distance in the older policy was 75 meters. The new liquor policy also mandated that no liquor vends should be directly visible from national or state highways.
Restricted Liquor Advertisements
Adding to the list of newer restrictions, now liquor advertisements will also be under the radar. All forms of advertisement, including those within the licensed zone, will now be explicitly prohibited. In case of violations, a considerably higher penalty will be prescribed against such advertisement. For the first offence, it will be INR 1 lakh, for the second offence, it will be INR 2 lakh, while the third offence will cost INR 3 lakh. If any further violation is noticed, it will be treated as a major breach that can lead to cancellation of the allotted zone.
Temporary Licenses Rationalized
The process for obtaining temporary licenses for events (L-12A and L-12A-C) has been rationalized. Higher license fees will be charged for a one-day license in unregistered commercial venues such as banquet halls. This will be especially applicable in urban areas like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panchkula as it aims to encourage registration and improved monitoring.
The new Haryana liquor policy also mandates that all licensed retail vends and sub-vends display warning signs prominently, such as those about the ill-effects of alcohol and driving under the influence. This is to ensure that places that sell liquor are at least creating more awareness about the harmful effects of the product they are selling.
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An Ambitious Financial Goal
The Haryana Government has set up an ambitious financial goal for 2025-2026 by setting a target of INR 14,064 crore. Compare that to the 2024-2025 numbers where the excise and taxation department managed to collect INR 12,700 crore against the target of ₹12,650 as excise revenue.
Summing Up
The New Haryana Liquor Policy aims to highlight responsible alcohol consumption by making its policies more comprehensive and stringent wherever needed. By introducing higher penalties, prohibiting live entertainment, restricting liquor advertisements, and more, the Haryana government aims to foster a responsible environment and create more awareness about alcohol consumption.
