The Gujarat government has introduced further relaxations regarding liquor permits within the GIFT City premises. As per officials, both employees and visitors associated with companies operating in GIFT City will now be able to consume alcohol under more relaxed guidelines.
In a notable policy update, the state government has revised the conditions for liquor permits specifically for the GIFT City zone, offering more flexibility under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949.
A new notification released by the Home Department on April 15 has amended its previous order from December 2023. These changes give greater autonomy to companies and their staff when it comes to obtaining liquor permits and managing visitor access.
According to the updated policy, employees of firms based in GIFT City who wish to obtain liquor access can now directly submit Form A-1 to an authorised official. This eliminates the earlier requirement of a 'Recommending Officer,' which companies say simplifies the process for both staff and visitors.
Once the application is approved, a liquor access card will be issued and shared with both the authorised officer and the Superintendent of Prohibition and Excise. Additionally, employees who hold the permit can now nominate up to five guests at a time using Form A-2. However, the employee must be present with the visitors in designated wine and dine zones.
Officials clarified that the ‘authorised officer’ refers to a person appointed by the GIFT City managing director, while the ‘recommending officer’ refers to company’s HR head, PRO, or another designated individual approved by the authorised officer.
The revised rules also permit both permanent and temporary permit holders to be part of group permit arrangements within GIFT City.
The most notable shift in the policy is the complete removal of the recommending officer’s role. These changes reflect the state’s broader goal of making GIFT City more attractive to global professionals and investors, all while ensuring appropriate regulatory oversight remains in place.
