Lieutenant Governor Brig BD Mishra (retd) of Ladakh has issued a directive to the Excise department, instructing them not to permit the establishment of any new liquor vends within the Union Territory.
This decision comes in response to numerous appeals from various social and religious organizations, as reported by The Tribune.
A significant delegation representing the Ladakh Buddhist Association, led by member Tsering Norboo, met with the Lieutenant Governor at the secretariat to advocate for the prohibition of new liquor shops and bars.
This appeal aligns with sentiments expressed by several other delegations in the past, emphasizing the community’s collective stance against the proliferation of such establishments.
In response to these appeals, LG Mishra has tasked Commissioner Secretary, Excise, Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan, with ensuring strict adherence to the directive, thereby preventing the issuance of licenses for new liquor shops in Ladakh.
Notably, the Excise policy of Ladakh specifies that licenses for operating liquor vends categorized as Type A are exclusively granted to residents of the Union Territory.
Furthermore, in the Excise policy for the year 2023-24, the UT administration has taken a proactive approach by encouraging a transition from high to low alcoholic content beverages.
As part of this initiative, the policy permits the establishment of micro-breweries within the region, aiming to diversify the alcohol offerings while aligning with responsible consumption practices.