Alcohol regulations in Meghalaya

Licences needed

Distillery/Manufacture Licence from ERTS, Bottling Licence, FSSAI Central/State Food Business Operator (FBO) Licence, Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Factory Licence from the Inspectorate of Boilers & Factories, and local municipal/Panchayat/Autonomous District Council NOC.

Authority

Excise, Registration, Taxation & Stamps Department, Government of Meghalaya

Documents

Application with court fee stamp, verified land ownership/title deeds or registered lease, detailed building layout and plant site plan, technical project report and distillation capacity, water source and effluent treatment plan, FSSAI licence/NOC, Pollution Control Board clearances, promoter KYC/identity/residence proof, and solvency certificate.

Fees

Distillery licence fee: ₹1,10,000 per annum (under Rule 244 of Meghalaya Excise Rules, as amended), plus prescribed security deposits and inspection fees.

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Licensed Wholesale (Bonded Warehouse) holders, authorized distributors, and military/paramilitary canteens holding valid excise permits. Individual retail licensees cannot import directly without state clearance.

Licences or registrations

Wholesale / Bonded Warehouse Licence, Import Pass / Permit issued per consignment, Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT (for international imports), and FSSAI Central Import Licence.

Authority

Commissioner of Excise / Directorate of Excise, Meghalaya

Documents

Excise import permit application, valid wholesale/bonded warehouse licence, DGFT IEC certificate, FSSAI licence, Export Verification Certificate (EVC) from supplying territory, treasury challan showing payment of pass fees and duties.

Fees

Wholesale/Bonded Warehouse licence fee: ₹1,50,000 per annum; Import Pass fee: ₹10 per bulk litre on excisable spirits/IMFL (subsidized for military canteens).

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

yes

Process

Annual brand and label registration is mandatory with the Meghalaya Excise Department prior to any distribution or sale. Suppliers submit label artwork, proof of ownership or authorization, and chemical analysis. Approval requires conformity with Meghalaya excise markings and FSSAI packaging guidelines.

Authority

Commissioner of Excise, Meghalaya

Documents and samples

Application with court fee stamps, certified brand ownership/bottling authorization agreements, proposed front/back label artwork, laboratory chemical analysis report, FSSAI registration certificate, and sample bottles as required for proving.

Fees

₹60,000 per brand/label for registration and ₹35,000 per annum for label renewal (under Rule 365 of Meghalaya Excise Rules, as amended; ₹2,000/label for homemade wines).

Renewal

Annual renewal required prior to the commencement of each financial year.

Time to obtain

not confirmed

All imported spirits must clear Indian customs under national customs regulations and obtain FSSAI clearance at the port of entry. Inter-state movements and movement from port to Meghalaya bonded warehouses require consignment-specific state Import Permits and pre-payment of import pass fees. Consignments must carry Export Verification Certificates (EVC) and transit wastage allowances apply. Spirits must be registered under Meghalaya's track-and-trace Integrated Excise Management System (IEMS) and bear authorized holograms/QR labels.

150% Basic Customs Duty (BCD) ad valorem on spirits under HS heading 2208 (national tariff), adjusted in conjunction with the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) to maintain a composite 150% import tariff.

Excise duty on spirits is classified by product tiers (Cheap, General, Deluxe, Premium, Super Premium) on a per London Proof Litre (LPL) or per case basis; state VAT applies (or is structured into an ad valorem unified excise levy), accompanied by a Retailer's Lifting Fee (₹2 per case) and track-and-trace hologram charges.

Distribution operates via private licensed retail vendors. Channels include 'OFF' retail wine shops (annual fee ₹50,000–₹60,000), 'ON' consumption premises (bars, restaurants, clubs), and Composite Bar Licences for 3-star hotels and above. Standard operating hours are 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM; composite hotel bars can operate up to 1:00 AM, 3:00 AM, or 24/7 subject to higher licence tiers. Outlets are prohibited within 100 metres of highways and 200 metres of schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Dry days are observed on national holidays (January 26, August 15, October 2) and notified election/religious days.

restricted

Labels must comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018: mandatory English statutory health warnings ('CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH' and 'BE SAFE - DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE'), declaration 'NOT FOR SALE TO PERSONS BELOW 21 YEARS', ABV percentage, net volume, batch/lot number, manufacturer/importer details, and FSSAI logo with licence number. State-specific requirements include 'For Sale in Meghalaya Only' and the mandatory application of state excise Holograms/QR codes under IEMS.

Direct advertising and commercial promotion of distilled spirits and alcoholic beverages across television, radio, print, and billboard media are strictly prohibited under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and CCPA Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements, 2022. Surrogate advertising is heavily restricted.

Governed by national FSSAI Alcoholic Beverages Regulations, 2018: distilled spirits (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy) must maintain an ABV between 36.5% and 42.8% (standard commercial strength in India is 42.8% ABV / 75° proof). Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) / Neutral Spirit must have a minimum purity of 96.0% ABV.

No blanket territorial prohibition across the state. However, sales are barred within 100 metres of national/state highways and within 200 metres of educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and places of worship. In addition, local tribal village councils (Dorbar Shnong) within Sixth Schedule Autonomous District Council jurisdictions may enforce community-level restrictions prohibiting alcohol retail inside village boundaries.

• Promulgation of the Meghalaya Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2024 (notified January 2025), introducing Rule 378 mandating an online end-to-end Integrated Excise Management System (IEMS) with QR code holograms and track-and-trace hardware across all distilleries, warehouses, and retailers.
• Introduction of Composite Bar Licences under amended Rule 244 and Rule 277A for 3-star and above hotels, establishing tiered annual licence fees of ₹10,00,000 (up to 1:00 AM), ₹14,00,000 (up to 3:00 AM), and ₹22,00,000 (24-hour service).
• Policy reform consolidating state excise duty and Value-Added Tax (VAT) into an integrated ad valorem levy structure to streamline tax administration and reduce price disparities with neighboring Assam.

Expanding hospitality and tourism in Shillong create rising demand for premium and super-premium imported spirits (especially Scotch whisky, gin, and premium vodka). Exporters can capitalize on private off-premise retail and premium hotel composite bar licences, provided their brands undergo annual state label registration and conform to FSSAI packaging norms.

• Excise, Registration, Taxation & Stamps (ERTS) Department, Government of Meghalaya
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

1. Meghalaya Gazette Part II-A: Meghalaya Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2024 (ERTS (E) 89/2023/66)
2. Meghalaya Excise Rules and Amendments Compendium - Meghalaya Law Department
3. Excise, Registration, Taxation & Stamps Department, Govt. of Meghalaya
4. Meghalaya Raises Excise Duty on Liquor, Targets Revenue Consolidation - Aabkari Times
5. FSSAI Compendium of Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations