Going to celebrate New Year, know how much liquor can be kept in the house

Alcohol Storage Limit: The whole world is ready to say goodbye to the year 2025. Christmas is near and New Year is coming next week. There is a festive atmosphere in the atmosphere. This is the most suitable time for the party. You too must be planning some party with friends at home. In such a situation, the question always arises that how much liquor can be ordered and kept at home. However, it is important to keep in mind that keeping excess alcohol in the house can lead to legal problems. The rules for keeping alcohol at home differ from state to state. Because according to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, liquor (Excise) is a subject of the State List. Possessing more alcohol than required can not only result in heavy fines but can also lead to jail time.

Laws related to alcohol change according to states. Therefore, it is important to know in which states drinking and possessing alcohol is legally allowed. Like, complete prohibition is in force in Bihar since 2016. Possession and consumption of alcohol is a serious legal offense here. Similarly, liquor has been banned in Gujarat since 1960. However, there is a provision for special liquor permits for tourists and NRIs coming from outside. Liquor has been banned in Nagaland since 1989. The rules keep changing from time to time in Mizoram, but currently there is a complete ban here. There has been a ban in some districts of Manipur for a long time. Although in recent years (especially at the end of 2023) the government had announced lifting of restrictions or relaxation of rules in some sectors to increase revenue, it is still not completely over. Lakshadweep is the only union territory in the country where liquor is banned. Although drinking alcohol is allowed for tourists on Bangaram Island, but it is banned for local people.

Every state follows its own excise rules. According to this, it is decided how many bottles you can keep in your house. Similarly, there is a limit on carrying liquor bottles from one state to another. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, you can take only one sealed bottle (up to one liter) from any other state. Here’s a state-wise guide to how much alcohol can be kept at home without getting into legal trouble…

Mizoram, Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Lakshadweep are dry states where alcohol is completely banned.

Delhi: In the national capital, people can keep a maximum of 18 liters of liquor at home, which also includes beer and wine. Under the rules of Delhi Excise Act 2009, you can keep up to 9 liters of rum, whiskey, vodka or gin. This limit is for a person who is 25 years of age or older. Delhi High Court has also clarified in a case that all adults (above 25 years) living in a house can possess liquor in different quantities under these limits. However, only one liter of liquor is allowed to be taken out of Delhi.

Haryana: According to the rules for keeping liquor at home in Haryana, a resident can keep a maximum amount of liquor with him. Maximum 6 bottles of country liquor. A total of 18 bottles of foreign liquor (IMFL) (keep in mind that out of these, imported liquor should not exceed 6 bottles). Maximum 12 bottles of beer. Can hold maximum 6 bottles of rum. A total of 6 bottles of vodka, gin and cider and a maximum of 12 bottles of wine can be held.

Uttar Pradesh: In this state, you can keep a maximum of 1.5 liters of foreign liquor (whiskey, rum, vodka) at home. Can store up to 6 liters of beer (which is approximately equal to 12 cans of 500 ml each). The maximum limit for wine is 2 litres. The limit of country liquor is also 1.5 litres. If you want to keep more liquor than this, you will have to take L-50 license. With this license you can keep up to 7.5 liters of foreign liquor in your house.

Punjab: Residents can keep two bottles of IMFL, one case of beer (650 ml per bottle), two bottles of any foreign liquor (1 or 5 litres), two country liquor bottles and one bottle of brandy.

Rajasthan: Citizens of the desert state can keep 12 bottles (or nine litres) of IMFL at their home.

Himachal Pradesh: Residents of this Himalayan state can keep 48 bottles of beer and 36 bottles of whiskey.

Andhra Pradesh: Residents of Andhra Pradesh can possess three bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) or foreign liquor and six bottles of beer without a permit.

Arunachal Pradesh: Under the Arunachal Pradesh Excise Act, possession of more than 18 liters of IMFL or country liquor without a valid liquor license is prohibited.

West Bengal: Persons above 21 years of age can purchase and possess up to six bottles (each 750 ml) of Indian manufactured foreign liquor. Apart from this, they can keep 18 bottles of beer without a license.

Goa: Residents are allowed to have a maximum of 12 bottles of IMFL, 24 bottles of beer, 18 bottles of country liquor and 6 bottles each of pure and distilled spirits.

Kerala: The maximum allowed liquor is 3 liters of IMFL and 6 liters of beer.

Jammu and Kashmir: Storage of 12 bottles of IMFL is allowed under the law. Which includes 750 ml JK Desi Whiskey and 12 650 ml beer bottles.

Madhya Pradesh: By paying an annual fee any person can keep 100 liquor bottles in their homes.

legal drinking age
Drinking age rules vary among states where alcohol is legal…

18 years: Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Sikkim.
21 years: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
23 years: The minimum age for drinking alcohol in Kerala is 23 years.
25 years: In Delhi (despite the proposed changes), Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra (Maharashtra has 21 years for beer and 25 years for hard liquor).