1. The department strives to keep all stakeholders informed about rules and regulations governing the use/trade/sale of liquor in the state. The main focus of which is sensitization of vendors and consumers regarding Excise rules and regulations. The vendors are regularly reminded not to sell liquor to minors or to employ them in liquor shops. The State Government has by Notification declared employment of minors in liquor stores to be a punishable offence.

2. To safeguard the impressionable minds of children the Government felt the need to have Foreign Liquor Retail Shops shifted away from educational institutions. This would rule out easy access to liquor as well as temptation to try liquor at young age. Hence a Notification to this effect was issued by the Department declaring that “no liquor shop shall be licensed for retail, wholesale and consumption of liquor within a distance of 1000 ft from the school colleges and any other educational institutions”. The Department has demarcated only certain areas for grant of licenses for any liquor business to be set up as per the approved schedule list.

3. In view of the geographical size and density of population, the numbers of Foreign Liquor Retail Shops were found to be disproportionate and many of these areas were found to fall in rural areas. The Department taking a proactive role appraised the State Government and subsequently a Notification was issued for freezing the grant of Foreign Liquor Retail Shop licenses. This was done with a motive to address and ensure social and health concern of all stakeholders.

4. The Department has amended Rule 5 of the Sikkim Excise (Licensing for Retail Sale of Foreign Liquor & Country Liquor) Rules, 2005, the Sikkim Excise (Licensing for Foreign Liquor Bar Shop) Rules, 2005 and the Sikkim Excise (Licensing for Brewing/Sale of Pachwai by Retail) Rule, 2005 and made Sikkim Subject/Certificate of Identification mandatory for grant of license