Chandigarh's top excise official has issued a stern warning against the illegal promotion and sale of liquor through social media platforms. The administration is gearing up to frame its new excise policy with a focus on transparency and stakeholder concerns.
Strict Action Against Unauthorised Sales
Deputy Commissioner-cum-Excise Commissioner, Chandigarh, Nishant Kumar Yadav, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, explicitly cautioned against the promotion or sale of liquor at unauthorised rates. He singled out social media as a particular area of concern, where vendors might be advertising and selling alcohol at prices lower than those officially approved by the Excise Department.
Yadav reiterated the Chandigarh Administration's commitment to a transparent and efficient excise regime. He emphasised that the policy-making process would remain consultative to ensure the final rules are progressive and fully compliant with the law.
Stakeholders Push for Beer Reforms and Simpler Processes
The warnings and assurances came during a comprehensive meeting held to discuss the upcoming Excise Policy for 2026–27. The session was attended by senior excise officers, vendors, and other trade stakeholders.
Participants raised several operational hurdles currently plaguing the sector. Key issues included significant delays in the approval of product labels and the processing of applications for new licences. They argued that this pendency was hurting business and requested a simplification of procedures with time-bound resolutions.
In a significant suggestion, stakeholders proposed measures to promote beverages with lower alcohol content, like beer, to encourage responsible consumption. They recommended that Chandigarh adopt models from states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which offer low-cost licences specifically for beer sales. This move, they argued, would enhance availability and boost government revenue.
Another idea discussed was permitting the use of temporary sheds on government land, rented out for use as liquor vends. This would help vendors operate in a more organised manner while generating additional rental income for the administration.
Clear Directions and Policy Assurances
In response to the immediate concerns, DC Yadav directed the Excise Department to clear all pending cases related to new licences and label approvals within one week. This directive aims to alleviate the current operational bottlenecks faced by traders.
Regarding the broader policy suggestions, Yadav assured the gathering that all recommendations would be thoroughly examined. He stated that feasible ideas would be incorporated into the Excise Policy 2026–27, keeping public interest, revenue goals, and ease of doing business at the forefront of the decision-making process.
The meeting underscores a dual approach by the Chandigarh Administration: enforcing strict compliance against illegal sales channels like social media while simultaneously working with the trade to create a more responsive and business-friendly regulatory framework for the future.
