Gujarat's GIFT city opens its doors to Wine and Dine Services, allows liquor consumption

GIFT City in Gujarat is changing its rules on alcohol consumption, allowing employees and authorized visitors to enjoy drinks in specific places. The state government recently announced this shift, permitting liquor consumption in hotels, restaurants, and clubs offering "Wine and Dine" services within GIFT City.

This applies to all employees and owners working there, granting them the ability to have alcoholic beverages in these approved places. Authorized visitors are also allowed, provided they are with permanent employees and have a temporary permit.

To implement this change, hotels, restaurants, and clubs in GIFT City can now obtain a special FL3 license for the Wine and Dine facility. Notably, while these places can serve alcohol to working employees and visitors, selling liquor bottles is strictly forbidden, according to the government notice.

The Narcotics and Excise Department will oversee the entire process, including monitoring and controlling the import, storage, and serving of liquor by FL3 licensed establishments in GIFT City, as stated in the notification.

GIFT City, located along the Sabarmati river, is a growing business district between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Known for its advanced infrastructure, it serves as a hub for cross-border financial services, attracting both domestic and international financial institutions.

The services offered include offshore banking, asset management, insurance, and hosting companies engaged in capital markets, IT services, and business process outsourcing. GIFT City also houses government-approved and regulated International Financial Service Centres (IFSC).

This decision is a departure from Gujarat's historical stance on alcohol prohibition since gaining statehood after separating from Maharashtra. While the state has traditionally enforced strict alcohol regulations, there have been instances of relaxation, such as during global events like the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

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