‘GIFT’ in a dry state? Liquor prohibition relaxations in the financial hub

Amidst a tight liquor ban imposed across Gujarat, a notable exemption for the consumption of liquor in the state has been made for the employees, officials, and corporate guests officially operating at the Gujarat International Financial Tech (GIFT) City.

Liquor access permits, issued by the state government’s Prohibition & Excise department, will be implemented for the entire GIFT City area as per the “wine-and-dine” facility.

For the permit holders, liquor would be accessible in hotels, restaurants, and clubs providing such service.

The outlets could provide the “wine-and-dine” facility through the FL III licence (a licence for sale at a hotel of imported foreign liquors (potable) and Indian-made foreign liquors (potable) on which excise duty has been paid at special rates).

However, the sale of liquor bottles would be prohibited.

Visitors will also be authorised by companies to consume liquor with temporary permits in the presence of permanent permit holders.

This prohibition was lifted to provide “a global business ecosystem for global investors, technical experts, as well as international and national-level companies operating at GIFT,” as per the department.

The prohibition department will reportedly monitor and control the import, storage, and serving of liquor under the licenced protocol.

GIFT City: Special Economic Zone

Situated around 10 km from the state capital Gandhinagar, GIFT City began developing around 2008.

In June 23 this year, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the company would open a global fintech operations centre in GIFT City.

Prime minister Narendra Modi said on Dec 9 that the government wants to make GIFT City “a new-age global financial and technology service hub.”

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