GIFT City gets liquor access permits from Gujarat govt

Ahmedabad: Employees working in units in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) may be eligible for a permit to access liquor, which can only be obtained from the designated wine-and-dine area within the facility, for two years, a gazette notification stated. As per the notification issued by the State home department on Saturday, a person visiting GIFT City may also obtain a temporary permit, which can be issued only for a day, and an employee holding a liquor access permit needs to accompany him in the designated wine-and-dine area. Visitors can avail fresh temporary permits as and when required, it stated. The government had last week announced lifting the ban on liquor in GIFT City to provide a "global business ecosystem" there. Under the new system, existing and upcoming hotels, restaurants, and clubs in the GIFT City area will be given permits for wine-and-dine facilities.

"The recommending officer shall prepare a list of employee (s) desiring to obtain liquor access permit and shall send the same to the authorised officer. The authorised officer shall issue liquor access permit cards based on the approved list of employees and send the same to the recommending officer," the notification said.