Maharashtra: Excise Dept Extends Liquor Sale Hours For Holi To Curb Bootlegging
Maharashtra: Excise Dept Extends Liquor Sale Hours For Holi To Curb Bootlegging
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has extended liquor sale hours on Thursday for Holi celebrations, allowing wine and beer shops to remain open until midnight in areas where dry days have not been declared.
A senior excise department official stated that the move aims to prevent bootlegging and curb the sale of illicit and counterfeit liquor during the festival of colors.
The standard closing time for liquor shops is usually 10:30 PM, but the revised directive permits sealed bottle sales until midnight.
According to sources, most districts in Maharashtra do not observe dry days on Holi, except for alcohol-prohibited zones like Wardha and Gadchiroli. Some sensitive areas in Marathwada may face restrictions due to law and order concerns.
Officials highlighted that the extension, implemented over the past two years, has been effective in discouraging illegal liquor trade and reducing bootlegging activities that usually peak before Holi.
