Uttar Pradesh cabinet simplifies the procedure to obtain a home bar license

People in Uttar Pradesh can now set up a home bar, rather simply. In a review meeting, the state cabinet approved the proposal to amend the Uttar Pradesh Excise (Acceptance of Bar License) Rules (First Amendment) 2022 and (Distillery Establishment) Sixteenth Amendment Rules. This has simplified the procedure of obtaining a private-home bar license in the state. Read on to know more:

The citizens of the state will now be able to obtain a home-bar licence at an annual cost of ₹12,000 as a licence fee and a security fee of ₹25,000. Earlier, only four 750 ml bottles were permitted to be kept at homes without a license.

However, the new permit will give them the authority to keep about 71 big and small bottles of 15 categories of liquor. Additionally, with this private home bar license, people will be able to drink and serve Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Imported Liquor from Abroad (ILFA) to anyone who is over 21 years of age in residential premises.

The new rule also eases inspection policy of these home bars. As per the reports, an inspection of these home bars can only be conducted after the permission of the Excise Commissioner.

The amendments made under the UP Excise (Acceptance of Bar License) Rules (First Amendment) 2022 and (Distillery Establishment) Sixteenth Amendment Rules bring a ray of hope for the citizens as it aims to ease the application process for the home bar licence, avoiding a lengthy application approval process and hefty fees. With the new changes, the applicant can successfully apply in three simple steps:

• Step 1: Fill out the one-time licence application form distributed by the state Excise department.

• Step 2: Submit the required documents like Aadhar card, Voter ID, Ration card, etc.

• Step 3: Make the payment of the licence fee within seven days and security deposite within 15 days of approval of the bar licence.

Besides this, the state has also amended the Uttar Pradesh Excise (Acceptance of Bar License) Rules 2022 to ease the process of obtaining a commercial license too. Under the new norms, the seating area required to procure a commercial permit is 100 sq mt and reduction in hosting space.

It may be noted that any liquor licenses will now be obtained directly from the state. Local authorities do not have the authority to do so anymore.