AHEAD of the tenth Vibrant Gujarat summit scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar next month, the state government has partially relaxed its 63-year old liquor prohibition law in an attempt to woo foreign investors and corporates to invest in GIFT city.
The state government on Friday allowed alcohol consumption in hotels, restaurants and clubs offering ‘wine and dine services’ in the GIFT City. The decision is significant as Gujarat is a dry state, where the sale and consumption of alcohol is not allowed. Such exemption has never been granted in any area of the state in the past.
The government has also introduced a provision allowing authorised visitors of each company to consume liquor in hotels, restaurants, and clubs holding temporary permits. As per the current regulations, the hotels, restaurants and clubs can serve liquor to the permit holder but they can not sell bottled liquor.
The development is in sync with the announcement of GIFT authorities that they are looking forward to promote social life in GIFT City. In 2021, the Gujarat government considered the proposal to relax liquor laws so that it can attract national and international fintech firms and lure talent to the state capital.
On September 27, 2020, the GIFT management had requested the superintendent of prohibition to enable evening public social life and asked for a relaxation in liquor laws in the special economic zone (SEZ) area of the GIFT City.
GIFT City is being developed over 886 acres of land with a plan to develop 62 million sq ft of built up area consisting of commercial space of 67%, residential space of 22% and social space of 11%.
