Ladakh administration calls Wangchuk’s liquor claims ‘false’, warns against rumour-mongering

The Ladakh Administration has launched a sharp rebuttal to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s allegations of liquor shops and bars mushrooming across the Union Territory, calling his claims “false, baseless and totally imaginary” and warning him against “rumour-mongering”. Maintaining that only one liquor shop is currently operational in the entire Ladakh, the Administration said the Excise Policy 2026-27 had been rolled back in August following public objections.

In a detailed clarification issued on Wednesday, the Administration said the previous Excise Policy of 2025-26 had been restored after feedback from people and social organisations. Under the restored policy, two liquor shops were permitted in Leh, but only one became operational after an auction on October 14, while no bid was received for the second shop. The clarification came in response to Wangchuk’s remarks during a press conference in New Delhi on October 22.

“As per the old Excise Policy, only two liquor shops in Leh were permitted in ward number 4 and 6. One wine shop became operational following an auction on October 14, 2026, while no bid was received in the auction. Consequently, as on date, only one liquor shop is operational in the entire Ladakh as earlier it was two”, the UT administration said.

“With regard to opening of liquor bars, the administration said that as on date 50 retail vend of liquor in a bar with restaurant–38 in Leh, 7 in Nubra, 3 in Zanskar and 2 in Changthang– are currently operational across the Union Territory. Two beer bars are also operational in Leh. Besides this, 9 hotels in Leh have liquor license, out of which 4 have applied and issued this year. One hotel in Nubra also applied and got license this year”, the administration stated.

The administration said that licences are issued to only those who apply as per norms and are issued in accordance with the “distance criteria” from highways, religious and educational institutions. The distance criteria has also been adopted for the license issued to hotels. Hence, Wangchuk’s claim of opening “Bars in every street, locality & around schools” also holds no ground, the administration said.

“These official records contradict Wangchuk’s deliberate campaign of falsehood and misinformation that “liquor shops are being opened in every nook and corner of Ladakh”. Clearly, the averments made by Mr Wangchuk are false, baseless and to “create unnecessary public alarm”.

The Administration advised Wangchuk to “take a brief pause from such statements and verify the facts, from official sources, before feeding completely false and imaginary claims to the national media and the people at large”.