Madhya Pradesh Introduces ‘Low Alcohol Beverage Bars’ While Banning Liquor Sale in Religious Cities

In one of the recent interesting moves to discourage alcohol consumption, the Madhya Pradesh government introduced a ‘low alcohol beverage bar’ with drinks with a maximum alcohol content of 10% (volume on volume) that will only be allowed for consumption. The Madhya Pradesh government will restrict the sale of liquor in 19 places, including 17 religious cities under its new excise policy from April 1, 2025.

The New Excise Policy

As per the new policy, which was released on Sunday last week, these low-alcohol bars would serve wine, ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages and beer. However, the consumption of spirits will be strictly prohibited in such bars.

At present, there are around 460 to 417 liquor come beer bars across Madhya Pradesh. However, this number will increase significantly after the addition of these new local low-alcoholic beverage bars. Alongside the government will shut down 47 composite alcohol shops under the liquor sale ban that will come into effect in 19 places, including 17 holy cities. 

A composite shop includes one outlet for Indian-made foreign liquor and another for local country liquor. 

The religious cities of Madhya Pradesh include Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Mahakaaleshwar, Orchha, Chitrakoot, Datiya, Amarkantak and others. These places will witness a liquor sale ban from the start of the next fiscal. 

This move introduced by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav after the clearance of the new excise policy is expected to cause a loss of about ₹450 crore in excise revenue for the state government. Foreign liquor units will be allowed to manufacture, store, export, import or sell special liquor from the next fiscal year.