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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Driven by new policy, liquor revenue sees 35% rise in Q1
Noida: Liquor revenue in the city jumped by 35% in the first quarter of 2025-26 compared to the same period last year. The city recorded Rs 625 crore in liquor revenue from April to June 2025, compared to Rs 462 crore during the same period in 2024-25. According to excise department data, the revenue in the first quarter of 2023-24 was Rs 430 crore, showing a 7% growth between 2023-24 and 2024-25 and a much larger jump this year. The sharp rise is attributed to the new liquor policy in the state, which made significant structural changes to the retail and licensing system. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida The month-wise revenue shows a steady rise across all three months. In April 2025, revenue was Rs 210 crore, followed by Rs 211 crore in May and Rs 204 crore in June. In comparison, April 2024 recorded Rs 135 crore, May Rs 168 crore and June Rs 159 crore, indicating a significant year-on-year rise across each month. The first quarter also saw substantial liquor consumption in the city. Around 21 lakh litres of country liquor were sold, along with 49 lakh bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), roughly 37 lakh litres. Additionally, over 2.14 crore beer cans were sold, which is approximately 4.30 crore litres of beer consumed in just three months. District excise officer (Noida) Subodh Kumar said the new features introduced in the UP liquor policy played a major role in increasing revenue. "One of the key reforms was the introduction of composite shops, where both beer and IMFL can now be sold together. This increased convenience for both vendors and customers," Kumar told TOI. He said the licensing process was made completely online, making it easier for vendors to obtain permissions and renewals without delays. "Another important step was mandating the sale of liquor through point of sale (POS) machines. The govt has also actively encouraged online billing, which ensured better tracking and helped increase revenue," said Kumar. Officials said that the city's growing population, rising urban demand, and the wider availability of liquor under the new policy framework all contributed to the growth trend. The excise department expects the momentum to continue in the upcoming quarters as the new system stabilises.
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Business Standard
22-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Why new liquor vendors in Noida are opting for container-based setups
Liquor vendors in Noida are increasingly choosing container-based outlets to navigate zoning bottlenecks, steep rents, and real estate constraints, after a policy shift in Uttar Pradesh formally permitted prefabricated setups. According to a report in The Times of India, the first such outlet in Noida was opened in Delta 1 sector this April. Housed in a 40x12-foot prefabricated container, the store marks a departure from traditional liquor vends and aligns with Clause 5.16 (17) of the UP Excise Shops Number and Location (Amended) Rules, 1968, which were updated earlier this year. The revised rules allow vendors to set up shops in prefabricated structures on both government and private land—provided local zoning and distance norms are met. The framework draws on models already implemented in Haryana and Punjab, and is aimed at plugging tax leakages while offering logistical flexibility to licensees. 'Legalisation of informal practices already in place' District excise officer Subodh Kumar said the policy was shaped by the informal use of temporary structures by vendors in recent years. 'This brings such setups under legal oversight and helps ensure proper tax collection. Haryana had already implemented this, and UP is now doing the same,' The Times of India quoted him as saying. In Gautam Budh Nagar district, 16 of the 501 new liquor licences issued this year have reportedly opted for container setups—12 in Noida and four in Greater Noida. Land shortages, zoning hurdles drive shift Though the policy has opened up a legal route for container-based shops, its implementation has not been smooth. Licensees say it is difficult to find commercial land that meets excise norms, especially the requirement of staying 50 metres away from residential areas. 'There's not enough compliant commercial land in Noida,' said a vendor who previously operated in Lucknow. 'I offered to pay rent to Noida Authority, but there was no response. Eventually, I rented a farmhouse for ₹75,000 a month just to get started.' District urges land allocation for compliant setups The district magistrate has reportedly written to the Noida and Greater Noida Authorities requesting land parcels suitable for container shops. However, excise officials said that no formal response has been received yet, though informal talks are underway. Greater Noida Authority additional CEO Prerna Singh confirmed that the matter may be taken up in the next board meeting. 'These shops could be a controlled, high-revenue model. We are considering incorporating container-based formats into our bylaws,' she said. Public resistance and enforcement action Despite the regulatory backing, some container shops have met local resistance. Earlier this week, the Noida Authority dismantled one such outlet in Sector 129 after complaints from nearby residents. Vendors argue that the container model provides a way to comply with government norms while overcoming urban constraints. 'We're not looking to break rules—we want to do business legally. But the system needs to support that,' said a licensee. Excise officials maintain that regulated outlets are vital to state finances. 'For every ₹1 lakh in liquor sales, ₹70,000 is state revenue,' a department official said, reported The Times of India.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Noida: Liquor sales go modular as prefab shops roll out under new UP excise policy
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Noida's Delta 1 became home to the city's first liquor store operating from a 40-by-12 feet prefabricated container in April, following changes to Uttar Pradesh's excise policy earlier this year. The state, taking cues from Haryana and Punjab, amended the rules to simplify business operations and plug revenue new excise policy, introduced on February 13, allows license holders to set up shops inside prefabricated containers on both private and government land—provided they comply with the UP Excise Shops Number and Location (Amended) Rules, 1968. Clause 5.16 (17) of the updated policy permits such outlets specifically in urban and industrial authority areas like Noida, Greater Noida, YEIDA, and Mandi Samiti zones, with rent determined by local excise officer Subodh Kumar said the move is aimed at regulating previously informal setups and ensuring proper tax revenue. 'Haryana has already implemented this model. We saw vendors in UP starting to do the same informally, which led to revenue loss. Legalising it helps the government ensure proper tax collection,' he Gautam Budh Nagar district, 16 out of 501 new liquor licences issued this year have opted for container shops—12 in Noida and four in Greater implementing the policy on the ground hasn't been easy. Zoning constraints, lack of landlord support, and steep rental demands are hampering progress. 'There's a shortage of commercial units in Noida, and landlords are often unwilling to rent to liquor vendors. Some demand exorbitant prices, others outright refuse,' Kumar address these challenges, the district magistrate wrote to the Noida and Greater Noida authorities in May, urging them to identify appropriate plots for container-based liquor outlets. As of now, no formal response has been received, though informal consultations are underway, officials Ghaziabad has already set up two prefabricated liquor shops, located in Sahibabad and Rajnagar Extension.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Spirits in a box: Why new liquor shops in Noida are in a container
Noida: Delta 1 got the city's first liquor shop operating out of a 40 by 12 feet prefabricated container in April after UP amended its excise policy earlier this year, taking a leaf out of Haryana and Punjab, to make business operations easier and plug revenue leaks. Under the new policy, introduced on Feb 13, licensees are allowed to set up prefabricated containers for shops on private or govt land, provided they met the guidelines under UP Excise Shops Number and Location (Amended) Rules, 1968. Clause 5.16 (17) of the new policy specifically permits such setups in urban and industrial authority zones, including Noida, Greater Noida, YEIDA and Mandi Samiti, against a rent fixed by local officials. District excise officer Subodh Kumar said the move aims to curb illegal, makeshift operations and bring them under a regulated, tax-paying framework. "Haryana has already implemented this model. We saw vendors in UP starting to do the same informally, which led to revenue loss. Legalising it helps the govt ensure proper tax collection," he said. In Gautam Budh Nagar alone, 16 out of the 501 new liquor licences issued this year opted for container setups — 12 in Noida and four in Greater Noida. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트, 지금 시작하세요 [자세히 보기] 임플란트 더 알아보기 Undo However, turning policy into practice has proven complicated. Zoning restrictions, reluctance from landlords, and rising rental prices have left many licensees struggling to find appropriate commercial space. "There's a shortage of commercial units in Noida, and landlords are often unwilling to rent to liquor vendors. Some demand exorbitant prices, others outright refuse," Kumar added. To ease implementation, the district magistrate wrote to Noida and Greater Noida authorities in May, urging them to identify suitable plots for prefabricated liquor outlets. But no formal response has been received, according to officials, although informal discussions are ongoing. A first-time licensee, who previously ran a shop in Lucknow's Hazratganj, said he was forced to rent land from a farmhouse owner at Rs 75,000 per month. "Every commercial unit I checked was within 50 metres of a residential building, which is against the rules. I applied to the Authority for permission to install a container, offering to pay rent. But when no reply came, I had no choice but to use a private plot," he said. Similar stories are emerging from Greater Noida. In Delta 1, another vendor found refuge on a commercial plot owned by a private builder near the metro station. "In April, when I was supposed to start operations, I couldn't find a space. Eventually, I set up the container on private land after reaching an agreement with the builder," he said. Despite the early hurdles, the move has long-term potential. Greater Noida Authority's additional CEO Prerna Singh said the matter will be taken up at the next board meeting. "We are looking at the policy's revenue potential. Prefabricated shops can be a regulated source of income for the Authority. We will explore incorporating these provisions into our bylaws." Excise officials stress that licensees are not just traders but partners in ensuring state revenue. "For every Rs 1 lakh in liquor sales, Rs 70,000 goes to the govt," said a vendor. "We want to comply — but the system has to work with us." While the policy offers greater flexibility to vendors and promises more revenue for the state, it has not been without friction on the ground. Earlier this week, Noida Authority dismantled a container-based liquor shop in Sector 129 following complaints from residents.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Only 3 apply, interest low in low-alcohol bar permit
Noida: Two months after the UP government introduced a low-cost bar licence aimed at helping small restaurants and cafés serve beer and wine, the response in Noida and Ghaziabad remains lukewarm. Officials have received just two applications in Noida and one in Ghaziabad for the FL-7(1) licence, as most businesses adopt a wait-and-watch approach. The FL-7(1) category, introduced under the revised-UP excise policy, is priced at Rs 4 lakh, significantly lower than the Rs 10–15 lakh needed for a regular bar licence. The policy was designed to encourage smaller eateries to serve low-alcohol beverages alongside food without the financial burden of a full-fledged bar licence. In April, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI)'s Noida chapter met with excise commissioner Dr Adarsh Singh and had shown interest in the scheme. But enthusiasm has since given way to caution, with most restaurateurs holding off on applying until the first few licences are operational. "There are two applications in the pipeline for the low-alcohol bar licence. We've had interest from several restaurants, but most are waiting to see how the first few do," said Subodh Kumar, district excise officer of Gautam Budh Nagar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "New policies take time to gain traction. Some businesses are still working on the necessary documentation." Varun Khera, president of NRAI's Noida Chapter, echoed this sentiment. "It's not that there's no interest, it's that restaurant owners are being cautious. Everyone is waiting to see if the new model is profitable and sustainable before jumping in," he said. Meanwhile, another new category—FL-4D—has seen slightly more movement. This licence permits the sale of low-alcohol premium products such as beer and wine inside malls housing multiplex cinemas, creating a niche retail opportunity. "In Noida, two such vends have already opened, one in R-Cube Monad Mall, Sector 43, and another at Durga Talkies Mall in Surajpur," a district excise official said. "There are two more applications in the pipeline, and we expect them to be issued in the coming weeks. " The FL-4D licence costs Rs 6 lakh, compared to Rs 25 lakh for the regular premium retail licence (FL-4C), making it a more affordable entry point into the liquor business.
