Its happy news for beer lovers in Jammu and Kashmir as departmental stores has been permitted to sell beers in J&K. Authorities under its liberalized liquor licensing and sale policy allowed departmental stores to sell beverage.
The Administrative Council (AC) approved the proposal for authorizing departmental stores to sell beer and other Ready to Drink (RTD) beverages in urban areas in J&K. The Administrative Council approved incorporation of liberal provisions in Jammu and Kashmir Liquor License and Sale Rules, 1984 and Excise Policy, 2023-24 for grant of License JKEL-2A for retail sale of Beer and Ready to Drink (RTD) beverages in departmental stores.
Under this scheme, the departmental stores within a commercial complex that are approved by the competent authority and have a carpet area of at least 1,200 square feet and an annual turnover of at least Rs 5 crores in Jammu and Srinagar, and at least Rs 2 crores in other urban areas, will be eligible. The departmental store should have been inexistence for at least 12 months prior to the date of application. However, this condition shall not be applicable in case of a new/recently opened departmental store belonging to a chain of departmental stores having annual turnover of more than Rs 10 crores.
Further the departmental stores should be selling a minimum of six of the category of items including grocery items; frozen foods; confectionery/bakery items; toiletries; cosmetics; household goods; utensils/kitchenware; sports items; electrical/electronic appliances; apparels; and stationery. In addition, no application for the grant of License shall be considered for departmental stores functioning at petrol pumps as per the said decision.