Ladakh Liquor Ban Demand: Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra Seeks Wider Consultations Amid Protests
The demand for a complete liquor ban in Ladakh has prompted the Union Territory administration to initiate wider consultations with religious organisations, women’s representatives and tourism industry stakeholders. Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, a 1996-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has called for a comprehensive assessment of the social, cultural and economic implications of prohibition before any final decision is taken.
The issue gained momentum following protests by women associated with religious and community organisations against the availability of alcohol and the grant of additional licences to bars. Several representatives have urged the administration to declare Ladakh a completely dry Union Territory, citing concerns over the region’s cultural values and the potential social consequences of increased alcohol availability.
At a meeting held in Leh on October 27, Kundra acknowledged the concerns raised by the representatives but emphasised that a blanket prohibition would require careful consideration.
He pointed out that tourism remains a principal source of employment and economic activity in Ladakh, making it necessary to examine the potential impact of such a decision on the hospitality sector and local livelihoods. The administration has proposed further consultations to build consensus and explore a possible middle ground rather than announcing an immediate prohibition.
Women’s Groups Demand Complete Prohibition in Ladakh
Women associated with religious and social organisations have been protesting against the availability of liquor in Ladakh, demanding a complete ban across the Union Territory.
The demonstrations have received support from representatives of several community organisations. Climate activist and Leh Apex Body (LAB) leader Sonam Wangchuk also referred to the protests in a post on X, highlighting the concerns of women participating in the demonstrations.
In his post, Wangchuk wrote: “Protesting mothers in Ladakh continued their dharna sit-in for the 6th day today and even stopped traffic for a short while on NH1.” He criticised what he described as policies that sought to address drug-related problems while permitting more alcohol-serving establishments.
During their meeting with Kundra, women representatives from the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and Anjuman Imamia, Leh, reiterated their demand for complete prohibition. They expressed concern about the growing number of establishments serving liquor and the possible consequences for Ladakh’s social and cultural environment.
Representatives of the All Ladakh Gompa Association and tourism-related organisations also participated in the meeting, providing the administration with an opportunity to hear views from different sections of the community.
Ladakh Rolls Back Its 2026–27 Excise Policy
During the discussions, the administration informed participants that the 2026–27 Excise Policy had been rolled back following public concerns, with the 2025–26 policy restored.
Officials also presented figures concerning the number of operational liquor outlets and restaurant-attached bars in the Union Territory. According to the information shared at the meeting, Ladakh had two retail liquor outlets until the previous year, but only one was functional in the current year.
The number of functional restaurant-attached bars offering liquor for retail sale, however, increased from 23 to 40. Seventeen additional licences had been issued for such establishments.
These figures became a significant point of discussion, with women’s representatives raising concerns about the expansion of liquor-serving establishments despite the administration’s decision to roll back the revised excise policy.
The rollback has not, however, resolved the wider debate over prohibition. The demand for a complete ban remains under consideration, and no final decision to declare Ladakh a dry Union Territory was announced at the meeting.
Ashish Kundra Highlights Cultural and Economic Considerations
Kundra said the demand for prohibition involved several interconnected issues and could not be treated merely as a question of excise policy. Referring to the experiences of states such as Bihar and Haryana, he cautioned that a complete ban could produce unintended consequences, including the spread of illicit and spurious liquor and the possible emergence of other substance-related problems.
“This is also a cultural issue and the community needs careful consideration of the consequences of declaring Ladakh as a dry territory,” he said. The Chief Secretary also emphasised the importance of examining the economic consequences of a blanket ban, particularly for businesses connected with tourism and hospitality.
“There are also issues of employment, tourism and economic activity and consultation with hotel industry is also crucial in this regard, particularly given that tourism is the primary economic activity in the territory,” Kundra said.
His remarks reflected the administration’s position that the concerns raised by protesters must be weighed alongside the possible implications for employment, businesses and the wider regional economy.
Religious Organisations and Tourism Industry to Be Consulted
The administration has called for a broader consultation involving religious organisations, hotel associations, tour and travel operators, and other stakeholders before reaching a decision.
Kundra suggested that the president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association convene a wider consultation to facilitate dialogue and help identify a possible consensus-based approach.
The proposed discussions are expected to address several key areas.
Social and cultural concerns: Women’s groups and religious organisations have called for restrictions on alcohol availability, citing the need to safeguard Ladakh’s social and cultural values.
Liquor licensing: The number of operational retail outlets and restaurant-attached bars remains a central concern, particularly following the reported increase in the number of licensed establishments.
Tourism and hospitality: Hotels, restaurants and tourism-related businesses are likely to be important participants in the consultation, given the sector’s contribution to local employment and economic activity.
Employment and livelihoods: The administration will need to consider how different policy options could affect workers and businesses connected with hospitality and tourism.
Implementation challenges: The possible consequences of a complete prohibition, including the risks of illicit sales and spurious liquor, have also been highlighted during the discussions. Further consultations involving a wider group of stakeholders may be convened if required.
No Final Decision on Ladakh Liquor Ban Yet
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on continued dialogue and the need to consider the concerns of women’s representatives alongside the views of other affected groups.
The administration has not announced a complete liquor ban in Ladakh. The immediate next step is to facilitate wider consultations and examine whether a consensus-based approach can address the concerns raised by protesters while taking account of the region’s economic circumstances.
The debate now centres on how Ladakh can respond to demands for stricter controls on alcohol while safeguarding cultural values, addressing public concerns and accounting for employment and tourism-related economic activity.
The outcome will depend on the consultations and the policy options considered by the administration. For now, the demand for complete prohibition remains under discussion, with no final decision announced.
