Liquor no more be served near Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri

Liquor will no more be served near Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri and Grand Road, venue of annual Rath Yatra, says Odisha Government on Thursday (March 26, 2026).

Announcing new liquor policy, the government said no liquor counter will be allowed to operate around 12th Century Jagannath Temple and Grand Road. Besides, home delivery of liquor around the temple has also been prohibited.

The new policy will remain in force from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2029 or until a new policy supersedes the existing policy. Apart from being major Hindu religious centre in India, Puri is also a prominent tourist place for its beaches.

The government has allowed beach shacks to promote tourism in the State. However, no beach shack can operate within the jurisdiction of Puri Municipality.

“The license for location and the number of beach shacks allowed for serving liquor will be based on the approval given by Tourism Department. The beach shacks will be allowed to operate throughout the year or for a period as decided by Tourism Department, depending on climatic conditions. The operations of the beach shacks will be either through Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) directly or through Beach Shack operators engaged by OTDC,” the policy pointed out.

Moreover, the government has announced to charge de-addiction cess on all kinds of alcoholic beverages, sold through Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited and the same will be collected from the retailers at the time of sale by OSBCL at the rate 0.5% of the Excise Duty (value) of the respective items and it will be part of sale price to retailers, the policy said.

Moreover, no new foreign liquor ON shop will be sanctioned in rural areas, except for three-star and above category of hotels and clubs in industrial townships.  No ‘dance performance’ will be allowed in any ‘ON’ shop premises. However, the ‘ON’ shops may conduct musical performance or orchestra within their licensed premises after obtaining necessary permission U/R 44(5) of Odisha Excise Rules, 2017.

Odisha’s excise revenue has gone up to ₹11,429 crore in 2024-25 from meagre ₹135.35 crore in 2000-01.