• Source:JND
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UP New Excise Policy 2025-26: People in Noida, Ghaziabad, Agra, and Lucknow can soon order wine or beer with their favourite meal at local cafes. Uttar Pradesh's new excise policy for 2025–26 allows the establishment of low-alcohol bars, serving only beer and wine, in these cities.

Restaurants that previously required a full bar license to sell liquor should find the adjustment less expensive since it will enable them to serve wine and beer without having to invest in a full-fledged bar setup.

Restaurant operators in these four cities might now get licenses for just Rs 4 lakh under the new policy, as opposed to Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, which is taken from normal bar or pub owners who serve a variety of alcoholic drinks.

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"The policy is for all kinds of restaurants, including cafes as well as fine dining. The norms which will govern the implementation of this policy are yet to be released, which will be clear once the policy comes into effect from April 1. The tenure of this licence will be one year, just like other licences," GB Nagar district excise officer Subodh Kumar said.

There are 435 restaurants in Ghaziabad and 1,040 eateries in GB Nagar, according to statistics from the food department. According to industry experts, the new category would reduce legal and financial barriers, enabling more restaurants to serve a smaller selection of alcoholic beverages without having to pay the hefty fees associated with a full liquor license.