The Noida administration has urged residents to report cases of people purchasing alcohol from Delhi or Gurugram to consume in Uttar Pradesh. This move is in line with the administration’s endeavors to boost revenue from liquor sales and to control the flow of alcohol from neighboring states where it might be relatively less expensive.
Residents who report such incidents are guaranteed anonymity by the administration. It stresses that bringing or consuming liquor from outside Uttar Pradesh is a punishable offense, and those accused could face potential jail time.
District Excise Officer Subodh Kumar said, “In Uttar Pradesh, bringing or consuming liquor from outside the state is a punishable offense. A case can be registered under Section 63 of the Uttar Pradesh Excise Act 1910, leading to imprisonment. Additionally, under Section 72, the vehicle transporting illegal liquor can be confiscated.”
He explained the state’s excise regulations, permitting only one bottle of alcohol from other states, with a minimum penalty of INR 5,000 for such instances.
Growth in Liquor Sales Revenue
In the last six months (July to December 2023), the revenue from liquor sales in Gautam Buddh Nagar amounted to INR 892 crore, indicating a growth of 15.54 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2022 (INR 772 crore). The district has attained 84 percent of its annual target of INR 2,324.78 crore, having collected INR 1,342.87 crore as of December 2023.
In a bid to boost alcohol sales, the Uttar Pradesh government authorized the outdoor consumption of beer in liquor shops possessing a 100 sq ft space. Additionally, liquor sale hours were extended during the festival season.
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Noida has designated dry days, including January 22 for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, January 14 for Makar Sankranti, and January 26 for Republic Day. On dry days, the sale of alcohol is prohibited, with regulations differing across states due to the state-subject nature of liquor laws.
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