Liquor sales in GIFT City in Gandhinagar experienced significant growth over the past two years, with over 60,000 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor sold between August 2024 and July 2026. According to Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi's statement to the legislative assembly, the state government earned ₹87.39 lakh in revenue from these sales during the two-year period. The sales were conducted through the designated Wine and Dine Facility Area within the financial hub. As per the written reply to Congress MLA Imran Khedawala during the Question Hour on the second day of state assembly's monsoon session, the total sales volume reached 60,354.47 litres during the complete two-year period.
The sales data reveals a dramatic increase in consumption patterns. As reported by the deputy chief minister, 3,716.28 litres of IMFL was sold between August 2024 and July 2025, while 56,638.19 litres were sold between August 2025 and July 2026. This represents a sharp surge of more than 15-fold in volume during 2025-26 compared to the previous year, indicating substantial growth in liquor consumption within the financial hub. The written reply confirmed that the sale of liquor surged sharply more than 15-fold in volume in 2025-26 as compared to the previous year.
The liquor facility was introduced in December 2023 when the Gujarat government relaxed its prohibition rules for GIFT City. According to the government's initial announcement, this move was aimed at providing a "global business ecosystem" for investors, technical experts and national and international companies operating from the financial hub. The relaxation marked a major departure from Gujarat's prohibition policy, as manufacture, storage, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages have been prohibited in the state since its formation. The GIFT City exemption was the first such relaxation granted for a specific area in Gujarat, with the government stating it was developed as a global financial and technology hub.
Under the original rules introduced in December 2023, hotels, restaurants and clubs in GIFT City were allowed to provide wine and dine facilities, but liquor bottles could not be sold to individuals. Initially, only people officially working in the GIFT City and their official guests were permitted to consume liquor at designated hotels, restaurants and clubs after obtaining required permits. Liquor access permits were provided to owners and employees of companies operating in GIFT City, while temporary permits were available to their visitors. The original rules marked a significant departure from Gujarat's complete prohibition policy.
The rules were further relaxed in December 2025, allowing people from outside Gujarat and India to consume liquor at designated hotels and restaurants in GIFT City by showing a valid photo identity card. As reported by the deputy chief minister, these changes removed the earlier requirement of obtaining a liquor consumption permit for such visitors, making access to alcohol at designated establishments easier for a broader range of consumers. The relaxation now allows visitors from outside Gujarat and India to consume liquor at designated establishments by showing a valid ID, significantly expanding the consumer base beyond GIFT City workers and their official guests.
