The Gujarat government has granted liquor licenses to 28 hotels across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts over the past two years, as revealed in a written response during the state legislature’s Question Hour on Monday.
Of the 28 hotels permitted to sell liquor, 20 are located in Ahmedabad city, with four situated in Gandhinagar, the state capital. Two additional hotels in Ahmedabad district and another two in Gandhinagar district also received similar permissions. The details were provided in response to a query by Congress MLA Imran Khedawala.
While the government did not disclose the names of these establishments, it highlighted its 2023 policy change allowing employees and authorized visitors of GIFT City in Gandhinagar to consume alcohol in designated “wine and dine” areas within licensed hotels, restaurants, and clubs. Despite Gujarat’s status as a dry state, alcohol consumption is permitted for authorized individuals in specified locations.
The state has seen a notable 35% increase in revenue from liquor taxes over the past two years. Between February 2023 and January 2024, Gujarat earned INR14.45 crore from liquor sales. This figure rose to INR19.53 crore between February 2024 and January 2025, as per the government’s statement.
Currently, alcohol in Gujarat can only be purchased from authorized vendors, including 77 establishments listed on the Prohibition and Excise Department’s official website. These include hotels offering both domestic and international liquor brands.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
