Maharashtra Government Allows Sale Of Wine In Stores, Supermarkets

Siddhi Dharmadhikari

Mumbai, 27th January 2022: Maharashtra cabinet led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey today allowed the sale of wine in stores and supermarkets.

The state’s wine policy is being executed mainly to benefit the grape growers and also to boost the wine industry.

The Maharashtra state currently produces wine from fruits, flowers, bananas, and honey. The wineries that produce and are unable to market their wines will be able to sell them directly in supermarkets or in walk-in store, benefiting small wineries and, alternatively, farmers in the state.

Beer and wine sales (sample FL / BR-II license) attached to the supermarket are currently licensed. The concept of a shelf-in-shop will now be implemented in supermarkets or walk-in stores as a supplement to wine sales. For this, the sample FL-XC license will be granted a sample E-4 license to sell wine in a sealed bottle, from a locker that can be locked in a supermarket or in a walk-in store (self-purchase facility).

Only supermarkets or walk-in stores with an area of at least 100 sq.m. and registered under Section 6 of the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 will be eligible for this. The place will have a single locked cupboard with a maximum size of 2.25 cubic meters.

The decision would also restrict the distance from educational and religious sites to supermarkets and stores selling wine. An annual license fee of Rs 5,000 has been fixed for the sample E-4 license. However, such licenses will not be issued in districts where there is a ban on alcohol selling.