15-05-2025
Cabinet gives nod to retail liquor sale by private players in state
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Ranchi: The cabinet of chief minister Hemant Soren on Thursday approved a proposal of the state excise and prohibitions department which will pave the way for the retail sale of liquor in Jharkhand by private players.
The ministerial council approved a new policy titled Jharkhand Excise (Settlement and Operation of Shops for Retail Sale of Liquor) Rules, 2025 to this effect. Wholesale liquor sales will be controlled by the state-run Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (
JSBCL
).
Thursday's move is a shift from the arrangement which was in effect since 2019 whereby the JSBCL controlled
retail liquor sales
statewide. However, the arrangement was scrapped as it failed to meet revenue expectations.
Talking to the media after the cabinet meeting, excise secretary Manoj Kumar said, "There were some implementation issues due to manpower crunch due to which the retail liquor shops will be privatised now. If all goes well, we hope to implement the new change within a month." On the issue of pricing, he added, "Of about 500 brands of India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), there will be a marginal hike in prices in some about 300 odd brands.
"
Kumar said 1,443 shops statewide have been identified for privatisation in the initial phase. "One can take a maximum of 12 shops in one district and 36 across the state," he said.
Reacting to new excise policy, BJP spokesperson Ajay Sahu said that it is aimed at another liquor scam in Jharkhand.
