Liquor sales nod may woo cos to Gujarat SEZs

AHMEDABAD: The state government’s decision to allow liquor sales in pockets such as special economic zones (SEZs), big conventions and business meets may help developers attract more companies to their SEZs. So far over 30 SEZ plans have been approved in the state and over 20 applications are pending with the government.

The decision comes at a time when Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit 2007, where a large number big foreign companies are likely to participate, is round the corner. Experts say the move will certainly play a role in making Gujarat the country’s SEZ capital. An additional plus will be that the state will earn revenues in a longer run.

“For a large number of foreigners, a peg every evening is a way of life. There are instances where executives of multinationals have refused to stay in Gujarat because they can’t socialise the way they want to,” said a senior executive of a leading Gujarat-based corporate which is setting up an SEZ. Apart from allowing liquor flow freely at selected places, the government is mulling to reduce the age for citizens applying for health liquor permits.


The government will issue liquor cards to individuals residing in SEZs as well as group permits to organisers of events which has a participants coming from outside for a price. These cards will be issued by the SEZ development committee. Only outside participants can consume alcohol, say sources. The liquor, however, shall not be allowed to be carried outside the SEZ limits.

Earlier this year, the state home department had prepared an internal note for chief minister Narendra Modi’s perusal, in which it had given suggestions as to how the prohibition policy could be relaxed in the state.

The Modi government had also issued a notification doing away with the provision to imprison a person caught drinking. The amendment in the Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949 seeks to replace imprisonment with penalising drunkards by making them do community service.
“The government has been giving indications all along,” says a senior bureaucrat.