The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a new liquor policy for the fiscal 2026, aimed at streamlining the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and cannabis in the state. The policy introduces several key changes and initiatives to enhance revenue and improve regulatory oversight.
The new policy mandates that native liquor shops, composite shops, model shops, and retail shops of cannabis will be organised through an e-lottery system. This system will ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation process. Notably, only a maximum of two shops will be allotted through the e-lottery process across the entire state.
The licenses for premium retail vend shops will be renewed under the specific liabilities and restrictions prescribed for the year 2025-26. Additionally, the rate of the license fee has been increased from Rs 254 per bulk litre in 2024-25 to Rs 260 per bulk litre for the upcoming fiscal.
In the same move, the government has decided not to charge additional license fees on the additional lift of beer for financial year 2026.
The policy also allows the sale of liquor in glass bottles, as well as in Sirong packs. Furthermore, the operating hours for indigenous liquor shops, composite shops, model shops, and bhang shops have been set from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Under the Ethanol Blending Program, a fee of Rs 7,500 will be charged for the disposal of applications submitted online, to obtain a permit for the supply of ethanol to oil mixing depots.
The Uttar Pradesh government has set a revenue target of Rs 55,000 crore for 2025-26.
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