UP: Liquor will be available in train and cruise too, Yogi government eases rules for licenses

New Delhi : The state government has allowed the sale of foreign liquor in trains and cruises, further simplifying the process of issuing bar licenses. The government has made a provision in this by promulgating Uttar Pradesh Excise (Approval of Bar Licenses) Rules 2020.

Additional Chief Secretary Excise Sanjay R. Bhusreddy said that the old process of acceptance of bar licenses has been simplified. Now the approval of hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars and airport bar licenses will be provided by the Excise Commissioner in place of the government. He informed that in place of the Bar Committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Mandalayukt, now the Bar Committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate.

Till now, one had to first apply to the District Magistrate for a bar license. The District Magistrate used to recommend it and send it to the Mandalayukt. A Bar Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the Mandalayukt, in which the Deputy Commissioner of Excise Department and Regional Tourism Officer were members besides the Mandalayukt. This committee, after making its recommendation, sent it to the Excise Commissioner.

The Excise Commissioner used to give his recommendation and send it to the Principal Secretary Excise. The Principal Secretary used to recommend it and send it to the Excise Minister and the Excise Minister used to approve it. The Bar Committee has been abolished in the new system. The District Magistrate will now send his recommendation directly to the Excise Commissioner and the Excise Commissioner will approve it.

Bhusreddy said that the manual also provided for the license to sell foreign liquor in special purpose trains or cruises approved by the authority or under the supervision and control of the railway administration.

Additional Chief Secretary said that as per the provisions of Uttar Pradesh Excise Rules 2020, it has been made mandatory to approve bar licenses within a maximum of 15 working days on the cases recommended by the District Level Bar Committee.