Alcohol laws of India
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In spite of legal restrictions, alcohol consumption in India has risen over 55% over a period of 20 years (according to OECD figures) as the laws are generally not followed in a customer business relationship. The maximum permitted ABV is 45.5%.
History
The Prohibition on Alcohol was first initiated in 1954 by Morarji Desai who was Chief Minister of Bombay Province. The Prohibition was imposed on the Koli people who were traditional distillers of alcohol or wine in Maharashtra mostly in Dharavi. Kolis of Bombay distilled the alcohol of Jamun, Guava, Orange, Apple and Chikoo. In 1954, Morarji Desai imposed the Prohibition on liquor but there were strong protests by the Koli community. Koli's alleged the Desai that 'This is not a Daru-Bandi, This is Desh-Bandi', due to the Desai administration's allowance on the selling foreign alcohol in the state and prohibitions on homemade liquor. Before the prohibition on alcohol, Kolis of Dharavi manufactured the alcohol legally and when prohibition enacted, commercial alcohol production ceased and Kolis had a virtual monopoly in this area.
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Law
Alcohol is a subject in the State List under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Therefore, the laws governing alcohol vary from state to state.
Liquor in India is generally sold at liquor stores, restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, clubs and discos but not online. Some states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, prohibit private parties from owning liquor stores making the state government the sole retailer of alcohol in those states. In some states, liquor may be sold at groceries, departmental stores, banquet halls and/or farm houses. Some tourist areas have special laws allowing the sale of alcohol on beaches and houseboats.
Home delivery of alcoholic beverages is illegal in Delhi. However, in Delhi home delivery of beer and wine by private vendors and departmental stores is permitted.
In January 2025, the Government of Madhya Pradesh implemented a ban on the sale of liquor in 17 religious towns across the state, including Ujjain, Orchha, Salkanpur, Chitrakoot, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Maihar, Amarkantak, and the Pashupatinath temple area in Mandsaur.
Legal drinking age by states and union territories
Drunk driving law
The blood alcohol content (BAC) legal limit is 0.03% or 30 mg alcohol in 100 ml blood.
On 1 March 2012, the Union Cabinet approved proposed changes to the Motor Vehicle Act. Higher penalties were introduced, including fines from ₹2,000 (equivalent to ₹4,100 or US$43 in 2026) to ₹10,000 (equivalent to ₹21,000 or US$210 in 2026) and imprisonment from 6 months to 4 years. Different penalties are assessed depending on the blood alcohol content at the time of the offence.
Dry days
Dry days are specific days when the sale of alcohol is not allowed. Most of the Indian states observe these days on major national festivals/occasions such as Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October). Dry days are also observed during elections in India.
Dry days by states and union territories
No dry day rule is applicable for 5-star hotels, clubs and resorts in West Bengal. Drinks may be served and consumed in those places in West Bengal even on dry days. Private consumption too is allowed on dry days. Only the open sale of liquor at restaurants, liquor shops and other permitted places is disallowed on those days.
Prohibited days are also announced when elections are held in the state. For Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections, Prohibited days are declared for 48 hours prior to the close of voting, plus during the counting day(s). For Municipality, Panchayat, Municipal Corporation, or Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council elections, Prohibited days occur on the polling day, the previous day and the counting day(s).
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Retail shops are closed on every month on the 7th, which is the pay day / salary day in this union territory, and on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of every month. Plus, a maximum of two fulls or four beers are permitted per person for sale in retail shops.
Delhi
Every excise year, the Government of Delhi, notifies the number of Prohibited days in a year. The three national holidays—26 January 2 October and 15 August, are always prohibited days, and additional prohibited days are announced at the start of the excise year (1 July).
Jammu and Kashmir
- Jammu
†Festival date may be in either month.
- Kashmir
†Festival date may be in either month.
Karnataka
Kerala
Sundays are no longer observed as Prohibited days in the state.
1st Day of English Calendar Every month for administrative purposes and on the grounds that it is the salary day. Dry days are observed on the day of polling and the previous day during elections as well.
†Date may be in either month.
Maharashtra
The district collector can also designate any day as a Prohibited day by giving seven days' notice. his list may vary depending on the date of festivals as well as specific Prohibited day announcements by the Government of Maharashtra.
†Festival date may be in either month.
Rajasthan
†Festival date may be in either month.
Tamil Nadu
†Leap year (will vary based on Tamil calendar) †Festival date may be in either month.
West Bengal
†Festival date may be in either month.