The Department of Excise and Taxation, Government of Punjab (PET), on March 29, 2026, has notified the Punjab Restaurant (Consumption of Liquor) First Amendment Rules, 2026 under the Punjab Excise Act, 1914. The amendment has been issued without prior publication and will come into force from April 1, 2026.
The amendment substitutes Rule 5 relating to grant of licence in Form L-52 for consumption of liquor in restaurants. It provides that such licences shall be granted by the Collector for a period of one financial year (April 1 to March 31), subject to prescribed conditions and payment of fixed licence fees. The revised fee structure differentiates between categories such as PML and IMFL, and further classifies fees based on urban and rural areas and size of premises.
The notification streamlines the licensing framework by clearly prescribing tenure and fee structure for restaurant liquor licences, ensuring uniformity and administrative clarity in grant of L-52 licences across the State.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 24/P.A.1/1914/Ss.24 and 58/Amd.(53)/2026]
