Rajasthan's Excise Department Imposes Rs 50,000 Fine for Unauthorized Alcohol Service
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Jaipur, April 3 (NationPress) In a significant regulatory overhaul, the Rajasthan Excise Department has enacted stringent penalties for infractions, imposing an immediate fine of Rs 50,000 for serving alcohol without the necessary permissions or violating license conditions.
The Rajasthan government has updated its Excise Policy (2025-29), resulting in increased liquor prices and stricter regulations for serving alcohol at events. These new regulations, which took effect on April 1, aim to enhance revenue while ensuring better compliance.
As a result of a recent notification from the state government, liquor prices throughout Rajasthan have surged by 5 to 10 percent. In tandem with this price adjustment, the fees for obtaining licenses for serving alcohol at events have also seen a considerable rise.
For commercial gatherings, the fee for an 'Occasional License' has increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 per day. For private events like weddings and family celebrations, the fee has escalated from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.
With the new regulations in place, serving liquor without the proper permissions or breaching license conditions will incur an immediate fine of Rs 50,000. This price increase varies among different liquor segments.
Country liquor will experience the highest price increase of 8-9 percent, adding approximately Rs 85 to a Rs 900 purchase. Liquor produced in Rajasthan has become up to 8 percent more expensive, while Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) has seen a modest rise of around 2.6 percent. Beer prices have also risen, with an increase of about Rs 25 per Rs 1,000 spent, and canned beer has become costlier by up to Rs 33 per can.
The Excise Department indicates that these revisions are a response to rising production costs and are projected to yield an additional Rs 1,500 crore in revenue by 2026.
Furthermore, the department has heightened monitoring efforts to combat illegal liquor consumption and ensure adherence to licensing regulations.
With nearly 98 percent of the state’s 7,665 liquor shops already auctioned, the government is concentrating on both increasing revenue and enforcing stricter regulations. Individuals planning events are encouraged to secure the necessary permits in advance to avoid incurring penalties.