Why UP Liquor Shops Are Offering Buy 1 Get 1 Free Till March 31

New Delhi: Liquor shops across Uttar Pradesh are offering massive discounts, including enticing "buy one, get one free" offers, but why? To clear their existing stock before April 1, 2025. This promotional strategy comes in response to the state's new liquor policy, under which fresh tenders for liquor shops will be issued starting April 1. 

Massive Discounts on Liquor Across Cities

In cities like Lucknow, large posters advertising these discounts have been prominently displayed outside liquor stores. 

Shop owners have explained that the discounts are necessary to sell off current inventory. If they don't manage to clear the stock by the end of March, they face the prospect of substantial losses. 

Traders Push for Government Action on Remaining Stock

Liquor traders have expressed concerns about the new policy's potential financial impact. Advocate Rohit Jaiswal, representing the Liquor Association, said that traders had filed a petition urging the government to take back the unsold stock before March 31. 

If the stock is not taken back by the government, traders will be required to destroy the remaining inventory after March 31, further exacerbating their losses.

New Liquor Policy Introduces E-Lottery and Changes to Vendor Licenses

Uttar Pradesh has now introduced an e-lottery system to allocate liquor vending licenses. In past years, licenses were typically renewed for existing vendors.

Additionally, the new policy includes the creation of composite liquor shops, which will sell both beer and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) under the same roof. 

This change will lead to the merging of several existing beer and IMFL shops across the state.

Key Changes Under the New Policy

- The government has introduced 60ml and 90ml bottles in the premium segment of foreign liquor.

- Country liquor will now be required to be packaged in tetra packs to enhance safety and reduce the risk of adulteration.

- The Minimum Guarantee Quota (MGQ) for country liquor has been increased by 10%.

- The license fee per bulk litre of liquor has been raised from ₹254 to ₹260.