AHMEDABAD: In what is seen as the perfect Christmas-New Year bonanza for employees and visitors to the Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City, the state govt has issued a notification further easing prohibition norms. The notification gives easier liquor access to non-resident visitors to GIFT, including people from other states and foreign countries.A key highlight of the notification issued on Saturday is the formal inclusion of ‘external persons’, defined as ‘a person who is not from the state of Gujarat, who holds a photo ID card of another state or who is a foreign national’.
Such visitors can consume liquor by simply producing a valid photo ID, without requiring a liquor access permit. This is a marked shift from the tightly controlled relaxation framework first announced in Dec 2023.The latest notification also eases norms for permit holders sponsoring visitors, allowing employees with liquor access permits to host up to 25 guests at a time, and clarifies that diners without permits can freely enter wine-and-dine areas for food. Sources in the know also said that employees of GIFT City can now get a liquor access permit based on their ID cards by submitting Form A1. “Earlier, employees were required to take authorisation/approval from company HR, which is no longer needed. An employee can get his permit and host up to 25 guests without extra approvals,” a source close to the development said. “Additionally, the company will no longer be held responsible for the employee who leaves GIFT City without submitting his permit,” the source said.The relaxed rules now allow liquor service across hotel and restaurant premises, including lawns, poolside areas, terraces, and even private hotel rooms, provided the outlet holds an FL-III licence. Earlier, it was permitted only within designated ‘wine and dine’ zones for employees holding special permits.Sanjay Kaul, managing director and group CEO, GIFT City, said the notification was a pragmatic step to support GIFT City’s role as an international financial and business district. “It addresses the operational needs of global institutions and professionals working within a clearly defined and regulated framework. The objective is to enhance GIFT City’s competitiveness as a global financial centre, while ensuring that all provisions are implemented in a controlled and responsible manner, in line with its mandate as a project of national importance,” he said.
Industry players said that the move is in sync with the state’s ambition to become a global financial nerve centre and host international sporting events, namely the Commonwealth Games (CWG 2030) and Olympics 2036. Stakeholders said that the fresh relaxations will encourage leading domestic and international food and beverage brands to set up shop in GIFT City. It will also help companies to attract talent to GIFT City and meet its goal of 100,000 employees by 2030.“This is a very positive move and a strong boost for both GIFT City and Gujarat. It sends the right signal for the hospitality and real estate sectors at a time when the state is positioning itself to host the Commonwealth Games,” said Narendra Somani, president, Hotels and Restaurants’ Association (HRA), Gujarat. Somani advocated controlled relaxation of liquor laws across the state. “A calibrated, regulated expansion of liquor access beyond GIFT City would not only align Gujarat with international expectations but also generate substantial revenue for the govt. Alcohol consumption is ultimately a lifestyle choice, and experience shows that outright bans are no longer effective.”Sources said that with the relaxation norms, a group permit structure is also available in GIFT City. “Any company can organise an event and avail group permit for all the guests. This permit will be issued by authorised GIFT City officials,” a source close to the development said.The minimum drinking age remains 21, and all consumption continues to fall under the regulatory ambit of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
