The Jammu and Kashmir government has collected revenue amounting to Rs 2,152 crore from liquor shop auctions in the past two financial years. Data reveals earnings of Rs 1,03,462.49 lakh in 2023–24 and Rs 1,11,816.07 lakh in 2024–25.
Most of the revenue, totaling Rs 1,96,830.06 lakh, came from the Jammu region, with the Kashmir region contributing Rs 18,448.50 lakh. The government has confirmed that no new liquor shops will be opened in the current financial year.
Regarding liquor licenses, the government has no plans to issue new JKEL-2 licenses this year. Existing wine shops in various districts have been significant revenue generators over the past two years. For instance, in Jammu district, revenue increased from Rs 48,350.15 lakh to Rs 50,913.93 lakh between 2023–24 and 2024–25.
In the Kashmir region, Srinagar saw revenue rise from Rs 5,489.67 lakh to Rs 6,557.66 lakh over the same period. Anantnag’s revenue increased from Rs 1,403.50 lakh to Rs 1,999.50 lakh, and Baramulla recorded Rs 872.23 lakh in 2023–24 and Rs 1,139.84 lakh in 2024–25.
All liquor licenses are strictly issued to Jammu and Kashmir domiciles in compliance with the J&K Excise Act, 1958, and relevant Excise Policies. It is noted that during the early 1990s separatist violence in Jammu and Kashmir, cinema halls, wine shops, and beauty parlors were forced to close by terrorists, impacting many livelihoods.
