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2023-24 Haryana liquor policy: Now, employees of large corporate offices can sip a drink at workplace
L-10F licence will be granted for corporate office if the minimum area of canteen or eatery is not less than 2,000-square feet
From June 12, serving low-content alcohol drinks such as beer, wine and ready to drink beverages will be possible in large corporate offices located across the state. The 2023-24 excise policy, approved by the Haryana council of ministers on May 9, allows possession and consumption of beer, wine and ready to drink beverages by the employees in a corporate office having at least 5,000 employees and a minimum covered area of one lakh-square feet in single premises (self-owned or leased).
As per the new liquor policy, a licence (L-10F) for consumption of low-content alcohol beverages on the premises of a corporate office will be provided if the office has a minimum covered area of one lakh-square feet in a single premises.
The L-10F licence will be granted for a corporate office if the minimum area of canteen or eatery is not less than 2,000-square feet. “The procedure for grant of licence shall be as applicable to the bar licences. The L-10F licence shall be granted on payment of an annual fixed fee of ₹10 lakh on terms and conditions specified by the excise and taxation commissioner,” the policy said.
A security amount of ₹3 lakh will also have to be paid by the licencee in addition to the licence fee. The licenced premises shall not be a thoroughfare or connected to any area frequented by public. The licencee will have to procure stock of liquor in accordance with clause 9.8.9 of the policy.
The L-10F licence will be granted by the collector (excise), with the approval of the excise and taxation commissioner. It will be renewed by the deputy excise and taxation commissioner of the district on behalf of the collector (excise).
The state government has, however, increased application fee for grant of a temporary licence (L-12AC) to event organisers for serving liquor during entertainment shows, exhibitions, comedy shows, magic-shows, mega-shows, celebrity events and other similar events. The fee has been hiked from the existing ₹10,000 (per event) for a gathering of 5,000 persons to ₹50,000 per event per day. It has been increased from ₹1 lakh per event to ₹2.50 lakh per event per day for gathering of more than 5,000 persons but less than 25,000 persons. The fee has been increased from ₹5 lakh per event to ₹10 lakh per event per day for a gathering of more than 25,000 people. The L-12AC licence may be applied for a maximum period of three days at a time.
Besides increasing the excise duty to the tune of about 3% for eight categories of the Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), the state government has also effected an upward revision in the minimum retail price of country liquor (from ₹160 to ₹170 for a quart) and metro liquor (from ₹210 to ₹220 for a quart). The minimum retail price of IMFL has also been increased to ₹3,100 from ₹3,000 for a quart for super premium brands, ₹875 for a quart for super deluxe brands from ₹850 and ₹420 for a quart for regular brands from ₹400. The minimum retail price for economy brands remained unchanged at ₹230 for a quart.
