Alcohol regulations in Arunachal Pradesh

Licences needed

Distillery / Brewery / Bottling Licence, Factory Licence, Consent to Establish & Consent to Operate from State Pollution Control Board, FSSAI Central/State Manufacturing Licence, Local Municipal / Trade Licence

Authority

Department of Tax, Excise and Narcotics, Government of Arunachal Pradesh

Documents

Land ownership deed or lease agreement, site blueprint/layout maps approved by District Collector and Excise Officers, Police Verification Certificate, no-criminal-record affidavit, tax clearance certificates, entity registration documents, Fire NOC, and Pollution Control Board consent

Fees

Application and licence fees vary by capacity and category, alongside earnest money deposits (EMD) typically starting from ₹3,00,000 as per state excise schedules

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Licensed bonded warehouses and wholesale licensees holding valid excise authorization, or approved institutional/defence entities

Licences or registrations

Import Permit for Foreign Liquor (IPFL), Import Permit for Bulk Spirits (IP-BS), wholesale vend licence, and registered Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) for direct international imports

Authority

Department of Tax, Excise and Narcotics (administered via the e-Abkari portal)

Documents

Import permit application form, brand and label approval certificates, purchase orders, pass/NOC from exporting state or customs clearance bill of entry, tax clearance certificate, and proof of upfront fee payment

Fees

Import Permit (IP) fee of ₹150 per case for packaged foreign liquor, plus prevailing state excise import duty and transit permit fees

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

yes

Process

Manufacturers or brand owners must apply annually through the e-Abkari portal for Brand Registration and Label Approval, submit cost breakdown cards for Maximum Retail Price (MRP) fixation, and ensure compliance with FSSAI regulations.

Authority

Excise Commissioner, Department of Tax, Excise and Narcotics, Government of Arunachal Pradesh

Documents and samples

Artwork/labels containing statutory declarations, certificate of chemical analysis, Central FSSAI licence copy, trademark registration/authorization letter, proof of manufacturing source, and bottle samples if required by the Excise Commissioner

Fees

Prescribed annual brand registration and label approval fees per label/SKU as fixed by periodic state government notifications

Renewal

Annual (must be renewed prior to each financial/excise year)

Time to obtain

not confirmed

All consignments moving into Arunachal Pradesh require electronic Import Permits (IPFL/IPBS) via the e-Abkari portal and advance payment of state excise duty at the point of entry. Consignments must carry digital transit passes, undergo verification at state border checkposts, and bear authorized state excise stamps/holograms before release to retail. Bottled-in-Origin (BIO) foreign spirits require national customs clearance, FSSAI border clearance, Certificate of Origin, and Certificate of Analysis.

At national level: 150% Basic Customs Duty (BCD) plus Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) on CIF value under HS 2208; plus state-level import fee (₹150/case) and state excise duty upon entry into Arunachal Pradesh.

State excise duty levied per case / London Proof Litre (LPL) based on declared slabs/MRP; Value Added Tax (VAT) of approximately 20% to 22% applied at wholesale/retail stages; local administrative fees/infrastructure cesses where applicable. Potable alcohol is constitutionally excluded from GST under Article 366(12A).

Privately owned licensed retail outlets ('off-shops') and licensed bars, hotels, and clubs (on-premise). Operating hours are established by local District Deputy Commissioners (typically closing at 5:00 PM or up to 11:00 PM depending on locality and venue type). Retail licenses are strictly controlled and capped.

banned

Must display statutory health warnings in English ('CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH' and 'BE SAFE - DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE'), brand name, product category, ABV % volume, net volume (ml), batch number, manufacturing date, Maximum Retail Price (MRP inclusive of all taxes), FSSAI license number and logo, manufacturer/importer address, state excise hologram/track-and-trace barcode, and 'FOR SALE IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH ONLY'.

Banned. Direct advertising of alcoholic beverages is prohibited across print, television, radio, and digital channels under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, ASCI code, and Consumer Protection Act guidelines; surrogate advertising is strictly restricted.

Regulated under Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018: distilled spirits (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy) must have a minimum ABV of 36% (typically standardized commercially at 42.8% ABV / 75° proof).

Mandatory state-wide dry days on national holidays (Republic Day on January 26, Independence Day on August 15, Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2) and during general or local elections. Sales are prohibited within mandated buffer distances (100–500 metres) of educational institutions, hospitals, and places of worship.

• Full digitization and enforcement of online modules on the e-Abkari portal for Import Permits (IPFL), Export Permits (EPFL), and Bulk Spirit (ENA) permits.
• Rollout of the Electronic Verification Certificate (EVC) and Integrated Bottling Plant System (IBPS) modules for real-time distillery tracking and dispatches.
• Mandatory upfront payment of state excise duty and entry fees through the integrated eGRAS revenue portal prior to consignment dispatch.
• Periodic notifications updating Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) and slab valuations for civilian alcohol sales across IMFL and beer products.

High per capita consumption of spirits in the state creates a receptive market for premium distilled spirits, primarily accessible by partnering with local bonded warehouse licensees who navigate e-Abkari digital permit workflows.

• Department of Tax, Excise and Narcotics, Government of Arunachal Pradesh
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

1. e-Abkari Portal - Department of Tax, Excise and Narcotics, Government of Arunachal Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh Excise Act, 1993 - Legitquest
3. Arunachal Pradesh Liquor License Guide - IndiaFilings
4. State-wise Liquor Tax Directory and GST Status (2026–2027) - GSTMunshi