Noida: Liquor sales go modular as prefab shops roll out under new UP excise policy

Noida’s Delta 1 became home to the city’s first liquor store operating from a 40-by-12 feet prefabricated container in April, following changes to Uttar Pradesh’s excise policy earlier this year. The state, taking cues from Haryana and Punjab, amended the rules to simplify business operations and plug revenue leaks.

The new excise policy, introduced on February 13, allows license holders to set up shops inside prefabricated containers on both private and government land—provided they comply with the UP Excise Shops Number and Location (Amended) Rules, 1968. Clause 5.16 (17) of the updated policy permits such outlets specifically in urban and industrial authority areas like Noida, Greater Noida, YEIDA, and Mandi Samiti zones, with rent determined by local officials.

District excise officer Subodh Kumar said the move is aimed at regulating previously informal setups and ensuring proper tax revenue. “Haryana has already implemented this model. We saw vendors in UP starting to do the same informally, which led to revenue loss. Legalising it helps the government ensure proper tax collection,” he explained.


In Gautam Budh Nagar district, 16 out of 501 new liquor licences issued this year have opted for container shops—12 in Noida and four in Greater Noida.

Still, implementing the policy on the ground hasn’t been easy. Zoning constraints, lack of landlord support, and steep rental demands are hampering progress. “There’s a shortage of commercial units in Noida, and landlords are often unwilling to rent to liquor vendors. Some demand exorbitant prices, others outright refuse,” Kumar said.

To address these challenges, the district magistrate wrote to the Noida and Greater Noida authorities in May, urging them to identify appropriate plots for container-based liquor outlets. As of now, no formal response has been received, though informal consultations are underway, officials said.

Elsewhere, Ghaziabad has already set up two prefabricated liquor shops, located in Sahibabad and Rajnagar Extension.