Who can drink in dry Gujarat: Here are the exemptions allowed

The manufacturing, sale and consumption of liquor in the state is controlled through a system of state-issued licences and permits. While as a consumer, a person has to obtain a permit, a manufacturer or seller has to obtain the requisite licences.

For consumers, the state has provisioned for seven different types of permits, classifying the specific conditions under which they are permitted to drink.

What are the various kinds of permits?

Five permit types can be broadly categorised as health and non-health permits. Two others are ‘Group Permits’ and ‘Tatkal’ permits for “urgent needs”. All permit holders can purchase foreign liquor only from the 77 licensed liquor vendors/shops across the state.

While a health permit can cost up to Rs 4,000 and requires an annual renewal fee of Rs 2,000, the cost of a non-health permit, the validity of which can range from a week to a month, varies from Rs 100 to Rs 500.

What does a health permit involve?

One of the oldest forms of permits in Gujarat requires an applicant to be over 40 years of age, have a monthly income of over Rs 25,000 and have a medical reason for applying. The permit is usually valid for five years or less, as decided by the area medical board (AMB).

Health permits are issued under Section 64 (Gujarat residents who require liquor for maintaining their health), 64B (presently living in Gujarat, who have lived in a non-prohibition state for the past 10 years and require liquor for maintaining their health) and 64C (retired defence personnel who require liquor to maintain their health) under the Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules. However, the state stopped issuing permits under 64C in August 2022 because the Section is under the purview of defence authorities.

A person applying for a health permit under section 64 will have to pay Rs 2,000 as a processing fee and another Rs 2,000 as medical examination fee. Medical reasons can range from ‘stress’ to heart ailments, said an official of a government hospital.

The state has also fixed the monthly quantity that can be availed by a health permit holder under section 64 of the Rules — three units for those aged 40-50 years, four units for those over 50 years and less than 65 years, and five units for those aged above 65 years.

For a health permit holder under section 64B of the Rules, the state specifies that a maximum of two units a month are permitted, for a maximum of two years, regardless of age.

Who can avail of non-health permits?

Permits for Temporary Residents can be issued to foreigners temporarily residing in the state. This permit allows them to purchase a maximum of four units per month and is free.

Tourist Permits can be issued to foreign nationals coming to the state. Such a permit is valid maximum for a month and allows for the purchase of a maximum of six units.

Visitors’ permits can be issued to residents of other states visiting Gujarat. It can also be issued to a Gujarat resident who is a green card holder. Proof related to the green card needs to be verified while visiting a liquor shop. This permit can be obtained for a maximum of seven days and if need be, can be extended for a maximum of three times. A visitor permit holder can avail of a maximum of one unit a week.

One can apply for tourist and visitor permits on an online portal now.

What other permits allow for liquor consumption?

Group permits: Under this provision, participants in any national or international convention, conference, including professional and educational, and who are not residing in Gujarat, can purchase, possess, use and consume foreign liquor. The permit has to be obtained by the organiser of such a conference/convention, which can also include government organisations. The permit shall be valid until the duration of such conference/convention.

Emergency/Tatkal permit: This can be availed by persons residing in Gujarat, for possessing and using brandy, rum or champagne, “for their family members”. Only one person in a family can be issued such a permit and this permit allows for 180 ml brandy or rum, or 375 ml champagne.

Who is authorised to issue permits to drink?

The latest is the GIFT City, where visitors can be issued permits on recommendations from the Human Resources head or designated official, and employees can be issued permits by officials authorised by the GIFT City company.

Permits for visitors and tourists can be issued by the shop in-charge deputy director from the Prohibition and Excise department posted in the licenced shop, apart from the district P&E officials. Managers of hotels which have licensed liquor shops have been authorised to issue permits to foreign visitors and NRIs.

How much is a ‘unit’?

A foreign liquor unit is defined as one bottle of spirit of 750 ml, or three bottles of wine of 750 ml. For fermented liquor exceeding 2% ethyl alcohol content, one unit is defined as 10 bottles of 650 ml or 13 bottles of 500 ml or 20 bottles of 330 ml. If ethyl alcohol content does not exceed 2%, 30 bottles of 650 ml and 27 bottles of 750 ml comprise one unit.

What kind of permit is more popular in Gujarat?

More and more Gujarat residents over the age of 40 have in the past five years applied for health permits, while applications for temporary permits to promote business and tourism have dipped significantly. Prohibition has been in place in Gujarat since it separated from the Bombay Province in 1960.

The permits issued in the dry state grew at an average rate of 6 per cent per annum between 2018 and 2022. As per data shared by the Gujarat Prohibition and Excise Department, a total of 47,836 permits were issued in 2018 under six categories (three of health permit types, three of tourism permit types). Of these, nearly 51 per cent were health and 48 per cent non-health permits. Compare 2018 to 2022, when a total of 76,135 permits (health and non-health) were issued. Of these, health permits cornered a lion’s share at 78 per cent, while non-health permits were 22 per cent.