What happened
The Lakshadweep Excise Regulation, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on June 12, formally repeals the Lakshadweep Prohibition Regulation of 1979, ending a 47-year-old alcohol ban across India's smallest Union Territory. Lakshadweep's population is 97% Muslim, and previous proposals to expand liquor availability had drawn opposition from local political groups and residents who cited social and law-and-order concerns. None of that opposition changed the outcome because Lakshadweep's governing authority is the Lieutenant Governor — appointed by the Centre, not elected by the islands. Under the new framework, alcohol will be available only in luxury beach resorts, approved hospitality establishments, international cruise vessels, and designated tourism zones, meaning the prohibition technically continues for everyone who cannot afford a boutique ocean-view suite. Excise duties are set at 400% on spirits and 200% on beer, which is either a moral safeguard or a price point that ensures the policy remains mostly decorative.