Organizing such a party even at home is a violation of rules and could attract fine and legal proceedings, says Subodh Kumar Srivastava, District Excise Officer (DEO), Gautam Buddh Nagar, according to a Report by PTI. To better inform the consumers about the rules, authorities have started fanning out and approaching residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and their members, making them aware of the rules and also guiding them from what is known as occasional license, in fact a day license.

If anyone is caught serving wine or liquor without a license, whether it is meant for sale in Uttar Pradesh or outside, it is totally illegal and will attract punitive action from the excise department,” Srivastava said.

These licenses to serve liquor at these private parties are available in two categories- one for individuals at a party where the gathering size is low, like house parties against a fee of ₹ 4,000. The other license comes for ₹ 11,000 and allows serving alcohol to larger crowds attending events at community halls, restaurants, or banquets etc. Apply on their website www.upexciseportal.in  under the category of Useful Public Services.

Added public outreach is also showing good results as more people have started applying for these occasional bar licensees. Around 5,800 such licensees were issued in 2022 from April 1 to November 30, whereas around 8800 have been issued during the same period this fiscal year, clocking an increase of 40 per cent; 900 have been issued in November alone.

Justifying the reasons behind this seemingly absurd and archaic policy are many, says Srivastava. “First, when you take a license, it will ensure that the liquor served in a party is authentic. This will also make sure that the applicant buys liquor locally and there is no loss of revenue to the government’, he explains.

Asked how the excise officials come to know if liquor is being served at someone’s private party at home, Srivastava said the excise department has a widespread network of informers; even the vends making abnormally high sales can provide some information. Sometimes even the neighbours annoyed with too much noise are vocal enough to lead offenders in the excise net.

For our overseas subscribers, Noida and Greater Noida are bordering towns of Delhi and are a part of Delhi NCR (national capital region). But they are both in UP- the adjoining state of Delhi which has its own laws as a Union Territory. Though the law exists already in Delhi, it is not strictly applied so far for house parties except for community events or banquets and farm parties.

Subhash Arora