Soon, city restaurants may serve imported liquor

Jaipur: The city's restaurant bars could soon pour imported liquor bottled in origin, if the excise commissioner uses his discretionary powers under the new excise policy that kicked in on April 1.So far, the rules were split down the middle: hotels with 10 or more rooms could serve hard liquor in their bars, while restaurant bars were limited to beer, wine and heritage liquor.A senior excise department official said the new Rajasthan Excise and Temperance Policy 2025–29 now opens a window for restaurant bars to serve imported bottled-in-origin liquor, subject to the commissioner's nod."Under the new policy, restaurant bars may serve imported bottled-in-origin liquor only if the excise commissioner grants the necessary permission. The provision effectively gives the commissioner discretionary authority to approve such licences," the official said.If cleared, restaurant bars could add globally popular whiskies sold in India to their menus, including premium Scotch labels such as Johnnie Walker, Glenlivet and Chivas Regal.Department sources said the move answers a long-pending demand from restaurant bar owners in Jaipur. Besides giving customers more choice, it could also top up state revenues, with excise remaining one of the govt's biggest cash counters.