Uttar Pradesh offers 618 liquor shops in lottery draw

Lucknow: The second phase of a lottery draw for liquor shops in Uttar Pradesh is underway. The state's excise department announced that registration to compete for 618 remaining liquor shops will be open until March 23. Only a small portion, about 2.25%, of the total 27,308 shops has not attracted interest so far. By March 11, the state had already allocated 26,690 shops. Many entrepreneurs decided not to take up the remaining shops due to various reasons. Some cited bad locations, lack of customers, and the fear of losing money. Others struggled with the necessary fees to secure their licenses. This lottery draw is part of a new policy introduced by the state to allocate liquor shops online. Many of the new shop owners are entering the business for the first time, with 40% of the recent allottees being novices. Existing retailers also sought additional opportunities, applying under their names and their relatives' names. Retailers are optimistic about the future of these shops. They believe that because of upcoming assembly elections in 2027, it's unlikely the lottery will be held again, allowing the shops to operate for at least three more years.