No lock for stock & barrel, UP residents say cheers with home bar permits

LUCKNOW: With festival season coming up, the excise department in a review found out that 32 individuals have taken home bar licences from the department in Uttar Pradesh. A home bar licence is issued for an annual fee to individuals who can stock up to 72 liquor bottles from among 15 categories and serve Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Imported Liquor from Abroad (ILFA) to anyone who is over 21 years of age in residential premises without exchange of cash.

Introduced for the first time in April 2022, the concept of home bars managed to find some suitors in the state.

While Lucknow has the highest number of 14 licencees, a closer look at the state-wide data shows western UP has a higher number of liquor patrons who do not mind hosting guests within the confines of their homes as compared to eastern UP.

A senior officer from the excise department said, "A lot of people consume liquor at home but only a handful have taken the licence after paying the fees and following the procedure. Such individuals are usually collectors of expensive wine and foreign liquor."

Sharing more details, the officer said that in Lucknow a lot of professionals such as doctors, advocates and businessmen have taken bar licences and so is the case in Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida and Greater Noida) where five licences have been issued in the 2024-25 financial year. Home to some of the richest people in the state, Kanpur has five such licences.

Before the bar permit is awarded, the circle excise inspector makes an inspection of the premises. A fee of Rs 11,000 has to be paid annually along with security deposit of Rs 25,000 to the department to get a home bar permit. A person can stock up to 72 bottles of different kinds, sizes and varieties at the bar.

Once the bar permit is issued, a raid or search can be carried out only if it is authorised by the excise commissioner. UP excise commissioner Adarsh Singh said, "Individuals who do not like loud places and want to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, can opt for a home bar licence. They can apply online on our portal and our field officials will facilitate the process. It is a legal requirement as well in cases where liquor above the stipulated amount is stored at home. In case of parties at home similarly, event licences should be taken."

The department during this financial year raked in Rs 3.52 lakh through home bar permits so far.

According to the department, the idea is also catching the fancy of residents in tier III cities, like Etawah, Bulandshahr and Rampur. A corporator from Etawah, Arvind Yadav, is one such. "I got the bar permit issued in the name of my wife (Hemlata) last year. It has expired recently, and I am contemplating whether to get it renewed or not. I had got a bar made at my house and got the licence once I heard about it. No other Etawah resident has made a home bar licence yet. My acquaintances and friends keep appreciating my collection," said Yadav.

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