Liquor no more be served near Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri

Liquor volition nary much beryllium served adjacent Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri and Grand Road, venue of yearly Rath Yatra, says Odisha Government connected Thursday (March 26, 2026).

Announcing caller liquor policy, the authorities said nary liquor antagonistic volition beryllium allowed to run astir 12th Century Jagannath Temple and Grand Road. Besides, location transportation of liquor astir the temple has besides been prohibited.

The caller argumentation volition stay successful unit from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2029 oregon until a caller argumentation supersedes the existing policy. Apart from being large Hindu spiritual centre successful India, Puri is besides a salient tourer spot for its beaches.

The authorities has allowed formation shacks to beforehand tourism successful the State. However, nary formation shack tin run wrong the jurisdiction of Puri Municipality.

“The licence for determination and the fig of formation shacks allowed for serving liquor volition beryllium based connected the support fixed by Tourism Department. The formation shacks volition beryllium allowed to run passim the twelvemonth oregon for a play arsenic decided by Tourism Department, depending connected climatic conditions. The operations of the formation shacks volition beryllium either done Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) straight oregon done Beach Shack operators engaged by OTDC,” the argumentation pointed out.

Moreover, the authorities has announced to complaint de-addiction cess connected each kinds of alcoholic beverages, sold done Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited and the aforesaid volition beryllium collected from the retailers astatine the clip of merchantability by OSBCL astatine the complaint 0.5% of the Excise Duty (value) of the respective items and it volition beryllium portion of merchantability terms to retailers, the argumentation said.

Moreover, nary caller overseas liquor ON store volition beryllium sanctioned successful agrarian areas, but for three-star and supra class of hotels and clubs successful concern townships.  No ‘dance performance’ volition beryllium allowed successful immoderate ‘ON’ store premises. However, the ‘ON’ shops whitethorn behaviour philharmonic show oregon orchestra wrong their licensed premises aft obtaining indispensable support U/R 44(5) of Odisha Excise Rules, 2017.

Odisha’s excise gross has gone up to ₹11,429 crore successful 2024-25 from meagre ₹135.35 crore successful 2000-01.