The Gujarat government has further eased prohibition norms within Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), significantly expanding the scope of alcohol consumption across licensed hospitality premises. Under the latest amendments, liquor can now be served in all areas of hotels and restaurants, including guest rooms, rather than being restricted to designated ‘Wine and Dine’ zones. Visitors without liquor permits are also permitted to consume alcohol in dining areas upon presenting valid photo identification, while the guest limit for GIFT City employees has been raised from five to 25.
These relaxations build on the special Foreign Liquor-3 (FL-3) licensing framework introduced ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2023, which allowed alcohol service in GIFT City as an exception to the state’s prohibition laws. The objective remains to enhance GIFT City’s appeal as a global financial and business hub.
According to Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director and Group CEO, GIFT City, the changes are designed to improve operational flexibility for hotels and restaurants while maintaining a controlled and responsible regulatory framework. Licensed establishments may now serve liquor across restaurants, lawns, poolside areas, terraces, F&B outlets, and hotel rooms.
Another key amendment delegates the authority to issue group liquor permits—for gatherings exceeding 25 people—from the Prohibition and Excise Department to the GIFT City administration, streamlining approvals for conferences and large business meetings.
Together, these measures aim to align GIFT City’s hospitality ecosystem with global business district standards while supporting its positioning as a destination of national importance.
