Alcohol regulations in Chandigarh

Licences needed

B.W.H.-2 (Bottling Plant Licence), D-2 (Redistillation Licence), L-11 (Bottling of Foreign Liquor).

Authority

Excise and Taxation Commissioner, UT Chandigarh.

Documents

Application, factory layout plans, proof of premises ownership/lease, NOC from Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, fire safety certificates, building bye-law compliance, list of plant and machinery, police verification/affidavits of directors.

Fees

D-2 licence fee is Rs. 4,00,000 for 2026–27; B.W.H.-2 licence transfer fee is Rs. 5,00,000 minimum; L-11 bottling fee is Rs. 4,50,000.

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Holders of L-1F licence (wholesale licence for Imported Foreign Liquor & Imported Beer) or L-1DF (wholesale licence for Imported Wine) holding a customs-approved bonded warehouse licence (which may be located anywhere in India) with minimum 1 year wholesale liquor distribution experience in India.

Licences or registrations

L-1F (wholesale of IFL), L-1B (wholesale/depot for IMFL), import permits per consignment.

Authority

Excise and Taxation Commissioner / Collector (Excise), Chandigarh Administration.

Documents

FSSAI central food business licence, Directorate General of Foreign Trade IEC, Customs Bonded Warehouse licence, brand owner authorization letters, audited financial statements, proof of tax compliance.

Fees

L-1F fixed annual fee is Rs. 30,00,000 (renewal requires minimum excise duty deposit of Rs. 25,00,000 during the policy year); import fee on IFL is Rs. 26 per proof litre.

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required: yes Process: Mandatory annual brand and label registration approved by the Collector (Excise) via the UT excise online portal before supply or sale. Authority: Collector (Excise) / Excise and Taxation Commissioner, UT…

Customs clearance at port of entry under CBIC; bonded movement to an approved customs bonded warehouse (can be located anywhere in India); import permits and passes required from Chandigarh Excise before dispatch; consignment…

Basic Customs Duty (BCD) of 50% plus Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) of 100%, aggregating to 150% ad valorem under HS 2208; Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) is exempt on HS 2208 spirits.

Import fee on Imported Foreign Liquor (IFL) is Rs. 26 per proof litre; Import fee on IMFL is Rs. 26 per proof litre. Cow cess is Rs. 1.00 per 700/750 ml bottle of whisky/spirits (Rs. 0.50 on beer and country liquor). Alcoholic…

Private retail vends (L-2 for foreign liquor, L-14A for country liquor) allocated by competitive auction/tender across 97 retail units; reintroduced L-10B licence permits sale through large departmental stores and eligible petrol…

banned; commercial e-commerce alcohol sales and home delivery are not permitted under Chandigarh excise regulations; all sales must take place in person at licensed retail counters or on-premise venues.

Wholesale suppliers of imported liquor must affix a white sticker (minimum 70 mm x 35 mm) readable by naked eye displaying: 'Name and Address of the Importer', 'Name and Address of the Wholesale Supplier of U.T. Chandigarh',…

Direct and indirect advertising of alcoholic beverages is prohibited under Section 29 of the Punjab Excise Act, Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, ASCI Code, and Consumer Protection Act (Guidelines for Prevention of…

Governed federally by the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018: distilled spirits (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy) must contain a minimum alcohol content of 36.0% ABV (standard commercial strength in…

Dry days observed on national holidays (Republic Day on January 26, Independence Day on August 15, Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2), election/polling days, and specific dates notified annually by the Administration. Liquor…

Reintroduced L-10B licence for the 2026–27 excise policy, permitting packaged liquor sales in large departmental stores and petrol pumps with an annual GST turnover exceeding Rs. 3 crore. Authorized Category A hotels to serve…

Chandigarh possesses one of India's highest per-capita incomes and an active hospitality sector with extended operating hours, driving consistent demand for premium imported spirits. Regulatory flexibilities allowing customs…

1. Chandigarh Administration Gazette Notification No. E&T/ETO(X)-2026/4137 (March 17, 2026)
2. The Indian Express: Chandigarh hotels to serve liquor round the clock under new excise policy (March 11, 2026)
3. The Tribune: Hours extended, A-category hotels in UT can now serve liquor round the clock (April 1, 2026)
4. The Times of India: Beer prices in Chandigarh set to increase; Excise Policy 2026-27 (March 12, 2026)
5. Punjab Distillery (Chandigarh 1st Amendment) Rules 2024 / 2026