Meghalaya Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla has informed that a temporary halt on the issuance of new liquor licences for both retail shops and bonded warehouses, citing the need for a comprehensive review of their locations and regulatory compliance. The decision aims to assess the suitability of existing outlets and to streamline the system of issuing such licenses.
“As of now, we have stopped issuing licenses temporarily. We will come up with a new mechanism. We will start issuing new licenses only after conducting a thorough study,” the minister stated.
“Our officers are on the job. We are doing a proper study to know where we need to increase the number wine shops and where we need to stop,” he added.
He emphasized that obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local headman (Rangbah Shnong) remains a prerequisite for licence approval. “Whenever an applicant secures the NOC from the Rangbah Shnong, they can proceed with the necessary paperwork for the licence. We issue a licence only when they have this NOC.”
Responding to concerns about if there are proximity of liquor outlets to schools and hospitals, the minister assured that no new licences would be issued in such cases. “If any wine shop is located near a school or hospital, we will review the situation. No new licences will be granted under such conditions. While some existing shops may already be in such locations, we are unaware of them at present. However, moving forward, we will strictly ensure that all criteria are followed, and no new licences will be issued in violation of these norms.”
The minister further clarified that the temporary suspension is also a response to complaints from existing wine shop owners, who have raised issues regarding regulatory proposals. “We have received few complaints from existing wine shop owners there times in a day when they don’t have sale which is difficulties based on these concerns, we have stopped issuing new licences to study the matter further. Only after a thorough review will we proceed with new licences.”
He reiterated that regulatory spot checks are conducted periodically to ensure compliance, and the government is committed to maintaining stringent standards before resuming the issuance of new liquor licences.