Telangana: Liquor shops to open till midnight, bars till 1 a.m on New Year's eve

Hyderabad: Bars in Telangana will serve liquor only till 1 a.m on the intervening night of 31 December and 1 January. However, liquor shops will stay open up to midnight on 31 December, on New Year's eve, subject to observance of COVID-19 standard operating procedures, the state announced on Tuesday.

The Telangana government on Tuesday accorded permission to the director of prohibition and Excise department to permit license holders of bars, licensees of event permit managements, and in-house licensees of the Tourism Development Corporation to serve liquor up to 1 a.m on the intervening night of 31 December and 1 January.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, in his order, said, "In the circumstances reported by the Director, Prohibition & Excise, Hyderabad, the government, after careful consideration of the matter, hereby accords permission to the Director, Prohibition & Excise, Hyderabad, to permit the license holders of 2B (Bars), C1 licensees (in-house) EP1 licenses (event permit), and TD1 (in-house) licenses of Tourism Development Corporation to serve liquor up to 1 a.m on the intervening night of 31 December 2021 and 1 January 2022 and to keep A4 licenses (Retail Shops) open up to 12 midnight on 31.12.2021 on the eve of New Year's day celebrations in relaxation of the rules in vogue, subject to observance of SOP for COVID-19."

The director of prohibition and Excise department will take necessary action in the matter, the chief secretary added.