Gujarat continues to follow its statewide prohibition policy, but GIFT City operates under a special and carefully regulated liquor-consumption framework. The rules were introduced to support the city’s development as an international financial and business district while maintaining strict controls over who can consume alcohol and where it may be served.
The Gujarat Home Department further relaxed the rules through an order dated 20 December 2025. The updated framework makes access easier for visitors from outside Gujarat and foreign nationals, expands the approved areas where liquor may be served and simplifies the process for eligible GIFT City employees.
However, the relaxation does not mean that alcohol is freely available throughout GIFT City. Consumption remains restricted to eligible individuals and licensed establishments operating under the applicable government approvals.
What Changed in the GIFT City Liquor Policy?
The latest changes focus on three main areas:
- Easier access for people from outside Gujarat and foreign nationals
- Wider approved service areas within licensed hotels and restaurants
- Continued permit-based access for GIFT City employees and certain visitors
These changes are intended to improve the hospitality experience for business travellers, international professionals and corporate guests visiting GIFT City.
Can Visitors Consume Liquor Without a Temporary Permit?
People classified as “external persons” can consume liquor at an approved GIFT City establishment by presenting a valid photo identity card.
Under the government framework, an external person generally means:
- A person who is not a resident of Gujarat and holds a photo ID issued in another state
- A foreign national holding valid identification
Eligible external persons do not need to obtain the temporary permit previously required for access. They must present acceptable identification at the licensed venue to establish their eligibility.
All eligible consumers must be at least 21 years old.
This permit-free facility should not be confused with unrestricted public access. Liquor may only be served by an authorised FL-III licensee and consumed within approved premises.
Rules for GIFT City Employees
Employees working for a company, organisation or unit situated in GIFT City continue to require a Liquor Access Permit.
An eligible employee can apply through Form A-1 by providing details such as:
- Full name
- Designation
- Employee identification number
- Age
- Mobile number
- Copy of the company-issued photo ID
Once the employee’s details have been verified by the authorised person, a Liquor Access Permit may be issued.
Employees must follow the conditions attached to the permit. If an individual is no longer employed in GIFT City, the responsibility for surrendering the permit rests with the permit holder.
Are Temporary Permits Completely Removed?
No. Temporary permits have not been removed for every category of visitor.
A Liquor Access Permit holder may recommend visitors who are coming to a company, organisation or unit within GIFT City. These visitors may apply through Form A-2 for a temporary permit.
One Liquor Access Permit-holding employee may accompany a maximum of 25 such visitors. The employee must remain with the visitors while they use the licensed facility.
This distinction is important:
- Outside-Gujarat residents and foreign nationals may qualify as external persons and use valid photo identification.
- Visitors connected with a GIFT City company may use the temporary-permit system where applicable.
- Gujarat residents who are neither eligible permit holders nor approved temporary-permit visitors cannot automatically consume liquor merely by entering GIFT City.
A person may enter a restaurant for food and dining, but liquor can only be served when the individual falls within an eligible category.
Where Can Liquor Be Consumed in GIFT City?
Earlier, consumption was primarily associated with designated Wine and Dine areas. The revised rules allow authorised licensees to serve liquor in a broader range of approved spaces within hotel and restaurant premises.
These may include:
- Restaurants
- Designated Wine and Dine facilities
- Lawn areas
- Poolside areas
- Terraces
- Food and beverage areas
- Other approved areas within the licensed premises
Eligible individuals may also order liquor from an FL-III licensee and consume it in a hotel room, subject to the applicable venue procedures and licence conditions.
The rule does not permit drinking in public spaces, offices, roads, residential areas or unlicensed venues. The establishment must hold the required licence, and the particular service area must fall within its authorised premises.
What Has Not Changed?
Despite the relaxation within GIFT City, Gujarat remains a prohibition state.
The special framework applies only within the notified GIFT City area and only under the prescribed conditions. It does not create a general right to purchase, carry or consume liquor elsewhere in Gujarat.
Eligible consumers and licensed establishments must continue to comply with:
- The Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949
- Applicable rules,notificationsand government orders
- Age and identity-verification requirements
- Permitconditions
- Record-keeping and venue-compliance requirements
Liquor brought from outside the licensed system cannot be consumed at the venue. Guests should also not assume that unconsumed liquor can be taken away from the establishment.
Why the Relaxation Matters for GIFT City
GIFT City is designed to attract financial institutions, technology companies, international businesses, investors and skilled professionals. Hospitality facilities play an important role in supporting business meetings, conferences, corporate events and longer professional stays.
The revised liquor rules may help GIFT City offer a hospitality environment that is more familiar to international visitors while remaining within Gujarat’s regulated legal framework.
Potential benefits include:
Improved experience for business visitors
Outside-Gujarat travellers and foreign nationals no longer need to complete a separate temporary-permit process when they qualify as external persons.
Greater flexibility for hotels and restaurants
Licensed establishments can provide service in a wider range of approved spaces instead of limiting consumption to a single enclosed Wine and Dine area.
Support for corporate hospitality
GIFT City companies can host eligible clients, delegates and professional visitors through the appropriate permit or identification route.
Stronger work-life and hospitality infrastructure
Restaurants, hotels, serviced accommodation and corporate event venues may become more useful to professionals working in or visiting the district.
What Does the Policy Mean for GIFT City Real Estate?
The relaxation may strengthen GIFT City’s appeal as an integrated business and lifestyle destination. Better hospitality infrastructure can support corporate occupancy, business travel, serviced accommodation and demand for restaurants or event-oriented commercial spaces.
However, the liquor policy alone should not be treated as proof that property values or rental returns will increase.
Anyone evaluating a property in GIFT City should also examine:
- The project’s location and regulatory status
- Developer reputation and delivery history
- Current occupancy
- Rental demand
- Maintenance costs
- Available infrastructure
- Connectivity
- Purchase price and expected yield
- Exit opportunities
- Applicable tax and legal considerations
The policy is one lifestyle and hospitality factor within a much broader investment assessment.
Practical Checklist for Visitors
Before visiting a licensed GIFT City venue, confirm the following:
- Check whether the hotel or restaurant holds the required licence.
- Carry an original and valid government-issued photo ID.
- Ensure the ID clearlyestablishesyour outside-Gujarat or foreign-national status when using the external-person route.
- Confirm that you are at least 21 years old.
- Ask the venue whether advance reservation oradditionalverification is required.
- Do not carry liquor into the venue from an unauthorised source.
- Consume liquor only within the approved premises.
- Follow venue rules and all requirements under the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
Because procedures may vary between establishments, checking directly with the licensed hotel or restaurant before arriving can prevent confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone visit GIFT City and consume alcohol?
No. Only eligible Liquor Access Permit holders, approved temporary-permit holders and qualifying external persons may be served liquor at licensed establishments.
Do visitors from Maharashtra, Rajasthan or another Indian state need a permit?
A person who is not from Gujarat and holds a valid out-of-state photo ID may qualify as an external person and may not need a separate temporary permit. The licensed venue will verify the identification.
Can foreign nationals consume liquor in GIFT City?
Yes, foreign nationals may qualify as external persons by presenting valid identification at an approved licensed establishment.
Can an Ahmedabad or Gujarat resident drink in GIFT City without a permit?
Simply being a Gujarat resident or visiting GIFT City does not provide automatic eligibility. The individual would generally need to qualify as a Liquor Access Permit holder, temporary-permit holder or under another legally recognised category.
Do GIFT City employees still need a permit?
Yes. Employees continue to use the Liquor Access Permit system and may apply through the prescribed process.
How many visitors can an employee accompany?
A Liquor Access Permit-holding employee may recommend and accompany up to 25 visitors under the temporary-permit process.
Can liquor be consumed on a terrace or near a swimming pool?
It may be served in approved terrace, lawn or poolside areas forming part of a licensed hotel or restaurant premises. It is not automatically allowed in every open space.
Can hotel guests consume liquor in their rooms?
Eligible persons may order liquor from an authorised FL-III licensee and consume it in a hotel room, subject to the establishment’s procedures and licence conditions.
Conclusion
The revised GIFT City liquor rules make regulated access simpler for visitors from outside Gujarat and foreign nationals while preserving the permit system for employees and certain company visitors.
The most important point is that this is a controlled exemption, not a complete removal of Gujarat’s prohibition laws. Eligibility, age, identification, venue licensing and approved consumption areas continue to matter.
Visitors should confirm the latest requirements with the licensed establishment before making plans, as government notifications, operating procedures and venue-level rules may be updated.
Policy reference: Gujarat Government Home Department Order No. GHG/165/2025/VDR/102020/977/E.1, dated 20 December 2025. Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and should not be treated as legal advice. Readers should verify current rules with the Gujarat Prohibition and Excise Department or the relevant licensed establishment.
