Uttar Pradesh excise policy knocks out liquor cartels, smuggling syndicates

Yogi Adityanath government eyeing Rs 204 billion in excise revenue in FY19

The new excise policy of the Yogi Adityanath government seeks to hit the liquor cartels operating in Uttar Pradesh, especially Western UP districts and curb rampant liquor smuggling from neighbouring states.

UP excise policy 2018-19, which was approved by the Adityanath cabinet here last night, has ended the monopoly of groups or traders in organised liquor retailing, which is estimated to fetch the government over Rs 204 billion in excise revenue next fiscal.

“The new excise policy is aimed at hitting the crony capitalism and monopoly in liquor trade and introducing transparency,” UP health minister and government spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh told