Gujarat eases liquor consumption at GIFT city, no permit required

Ahmedabad: Any person from outside Gujarat or India can now consume liquor at designated hotels or restaurants inside GIFT City, a global finance centre in Gandhinagar, by just showing a photo ID card, as per changes made in alcohol rules at the hub by the state government.

The government has introduced major changes to liquor rules at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and done away with the norm of obtaining a permit for alcohol consumption.

The state home department announced the changes through a gazette notification. Through the December 20 notification, the department has further eased liquor consumption rules at GIFT City.


Gujarat is a dry state where manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor are prohibited. However, the government made an exemption for GIFT City in 2023 by allowing sale and consumption of alcohol inside the central business district with some conditions. As per the latest notification, any "external person", who is not from Gujarat, or a foreign national, is now allowed to consume liquor at designated facilities at GIFT City by showing his or her valid photo ID card.

This new rule discards the previous condition wherein such "external persons" were required to get temporary permits.