Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: The Assam Excise Department is shutting down all alcohol sales across 11 districts. This move comes ahead of the 2026 general elections for the Mising Autonomous Council and the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council. The ban kicks in on November 28, exactly 48 hours before the first vote is cast.
Liquor, spirits, and any intoxicating substances are off the table. This restriction covers wholesale warehouses, retail Indian Made Foreign Liquor outlets, and both ON and OFF license shops. Hotels, clubs, and country liquor shops must also stop all service. Even private storage faces strict oversight.
The dry days run from November 28 until voting finishes on November 30. The state will keep the taps closed on December 1 if officials call for re-polling. The final dry day is December 3, which is when staff will count the ballots. The department states, "The prohibition will continue until the counting process is completed."
The policy targets Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, and Tinsukia. Officials warned that anyone caught breaking these rules faces legal consequences. Penalties fall under the Assam Excise Act, the Assam Excise Rules of 2016, and Section 135C of the Representation of the People Act of 1951.
Updated at 12th November 2026 at 2:00am
The crackdown includes specific enforcement of Rule 326(A) of the Assam Excise Rules, 2016, alongside previously mentioned statutes. Authorities have clarified that the ban extends to all restaurants and covers both public and private premises during the dry period.
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