Jammu and Kashmir govt says no new liquor vends advertised or allotted

As part of the Excise Policy for 2025-26, the government has called for bids to establish over 200 new liquor shops in the ten districts of Jammu and four districts of the Kashmir Valley.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday clarified that there has been no change in the number of liquor shops being auctioned for 2025-26 from the previous years.

Office of Chief Minister, J&K, in a post on X: “NO NEW LIQUOR VENDS ARE BEING ADVERTISED OR ALLOTED BY MY GOVERNMENT.”

“It is important to note that the number of wine shops has remained unchanged at 305 since the financial year 2023-24, with no increase in either Jammu or Kashmir,” it said.

As per J&K Excise Policy for 2025-26, announced on February 15 this year, 305 number of vends (wine shops) were put up for e-auction and after the culmination of the bidding process, 271 vends got allotted through the e-auction process (conducted by J&K Bank) to successful H1 bidders, while the remaining 34 locations are being re-auctioned through a public notice issued on March 7. The bidding process for these 34 vends will conclude on March 17, it added.

The breakdown of these vends includes 291 in the Jammu region and 14 in the Kashmir Valley.

During the ongoing Budget session of the Legislative Assembly, legislators across party lines have moved Private Members’ Bills calling for a complete ban on alcohol sales in the Union Territory (UT). This has sparked a renewed push, with opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Ilitja Mufti, launching a signature campaign in Srinagar last week demanding the implementation of a liquor ban.

Interestingly, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has joined the call for liquor ban, with leaders such as former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh and J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi voicing support for the bills.

Traders in Srinagar’s city center Lal Chowk recently put up a poster urging tourists to avoid liquor consumption, though it was swiftly removed by the police. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in several states across India, including Bihar, Gujarat, Nagaland, and Mizoram, as well as in the UT of Lakshadweep.

Despite these demands for a ban, liquor sales in J&K are on the rise. The government’s latest economic survey projects a 4 per cent increase in excise revenue, expected to reach Rs 2,000 crore in 2024-25. This boost in revenue is attributed to policy reforms such as more robust tracking systems, transparent auctions, and a revamped excise framework.

The government’s new excise policy, unveiled on February 15, adopts a two-pronged approach. While it acknowledges the “harmful effects of alcohol consumption and drug abuse,” it also aims to “provide a choice of liquor brands and places for consumption.” The policy promotes industry growth, encourages local manufacturing, and seeks to create jobs.

Calls for a liquor ban in the Muslim-majority region have a long history, dating back to the era of National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who reportedly opposed such a move, fearing it would harm the region’s tourism industry.