Gujarat govt allows hotels and clubs to serve liquor consumption in GIFT City for employees, visitors

People working in GIFT CITY and authorised visitors to be given liquor permit. Hotels can serve liquor but not sell bottles

• People working in GIFT CITY and authorised visitors to be given liquor permit
• Liquor Access Permit will be given to all the employees/owners working in the entire GIFT City
• Hotels can serve liquor but not sell bottles

Gujarat government on Friday allowed alcohol consumption at hotels/restaurants/clubs offering “Wine and Dine” in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City GIFT City. Liquor access permit will be given to all the employees/owners working in the entire GIFT City in Gandhinagar, stated a notification that gains importance as Gujarat is a dry state. 

Apart from this, a provision has been made to allow authorised visitors of each company to consume liquor in such hotels/restaurants/clubs having temporary permits in the presence of permanent employees of that company.

Hotels/restaurants/clubs located or coming to GIFT City will be able to obtain wine and dine facility i.e. FL3 license there. Officially serving employees of GIFT City and officially visiting visitors can consume liquor in hotels/clubs/restaurants. However, hotels/clubs/restaurants cannot sell liquor bottles, said the government.

GIFT City is a tax-neutral financial centre that aims to compete with hubs like Singapore as it provides fiscal incentives and a looser regulatory environment.

The Gujarat government has permitted nearly 60 hotels and clubs to serve liquor in the GIFT City

Officials, employees and owners working or operating from GIFT city will be exempted from the prohibition law, which makes alcohol consumption illegal across the State

As a part of Gujarat state tourism policy, the State has allowed licensed liquor stores in some hotels where only tourists can purchase alcohol from the licensed shops.