Lakshadweep/Hyderabad, June 9 (Maxim News): The central government has given the green signal for the sale of alcohol in the Muslim-majority Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The ban, which has been in place for the past 47 years, has been lifted with the aim of developing tourism. To this end, a gazette notification has been issued revoking the ‘ Lakshadweep Prohibition Regulation ‘ , which came into force in 1979. This has paved the way for the sale of alcohol through licensed shops under a controlled procedure.
According to the newly enacted Lakshadweep Excise Regulation 2026, all aspects of liquor manufacture, import, export, transportation, purchase, sale, and consumption will be regulated through a licensing system. Public sector undertakings and corporations have also been given the opportunity to obtain permission for the import and retail sale of liquor.
However, despite making alcohol available, high taxes have been imposed. Excise duty has been imposed on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and foreign liquor of 400 percent, on beer of 200 percent, and on wine of 80 percent. There is also a ban on the sale of alcohol to those below the age of 21. If necessary, the Administrator has the power to impose a ban again in any part of Lakshadweep.
About 97 percent of the population of Lakshadweep is Muslim. This is very high compared to any state or union territory in India. In the wake of the prohibition of alcohol in Islam, a ban on the sale of alcohol has been implemented in Lakshadweep since 1979. However, this ban is not complete. There were some exceptions for tourists and government officials. But the central government lifted the ban on alcohol with the aim of developing Lakshadweep as a world-class tourist destination. Officials revealed that this decision was taken considering that the ban would become an obstacle to competing with ocean island tourist destinations like the Maldives. (Maxim News)
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