India

Diwali 2026 Dry Day: Liquor Shops Shut on Sunday, November 8 in Delhi, UP, Maharashtra and Other States

By Sneha Biswas

Liquor outlets across several Indian states will be closed on Diwali 2026. The dry day falls on Sunday, November 8, and includes Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura and other states. On this day, government‑run, private and model liquor shops are prohibited from selling alcohol, including country liquor, Indian‑made foreign liquor (IMFL) and beer. Bars and restaurants in these states are also directed not to serve alcohol throughout the day.

The ban may extend to the supply or serving of alcoholic beverages, depending on state government directions. Regular bars and restaurants must not serve alcohol on the declared dry day; they may serve food and non‑alcoholic drinks. Public bar areas must remain closed even where hotel exemptions apply. In Delhi, hotels with L‑15 and L‑15F licences can serve alcohol to guests in their rooms. In Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, specially licensed four‑ and five‑star hotels may serve in‑house guests through room service only, but their public bar areas must stay shut.

Liquor shops will operate during their normal hours on Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj, as these dates have not been designated as dry days. Failure to comply with the dry‑day restrictions can result in fines and the possibility of licence suspension or cancellation.

Additional dry days for the year include: - Delhi: November 8 (Diwali), November 24 (Guru Nanak Jayanti) and December 25 (Christmas). - Uttar Pradesh: November 8, November 24 and December 25. - Maharashtra: November 8. - Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and other states: November 8.

The information is based on recent reports and NDTV profit coverage.