GUWAHATI: The Assam government has placed fresh emphasis on regulating and promoting the state's liquor sector in its 2026 budget, with the introduction of 'Assam Made Liquor' emerging as a key highlight of the Excise Department's roadmap for the year.
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The new liquor category is being introduced with the objective of offering people an affordable, regulated and quality-assured alternative to unregulated products, while simultaneously discouraging illegal production and distribution across the state. The move comes as part of a broader push to bring traditional and local beverage production under a more structured, regulated framework, encouraging both manufacturing and marketing of the state's indigenous drinks.
The initiative is backed by strong numbers from the outgoing fiscal year. The Excise Department collected ₹4,054 crore in revenue during 2025-26, up from ₹3,609 crore the previous year, a jump the government has cited as evidence of its tightening grip on the sector. Enforcement was stepped up in parallel, with 24,228 excise offences registered and 1,52,295 litres of illicit liquor seized through sustained crackdowns.
To support the shift, the government has rationalised the existing ad-valorem levy structure, aiming to make taxation more efficient, transparent and responsive to revenue trends. It is also introducing digital lock systems for tracking liquor consignments moving across state borders, as well as shipments from distilleries, manufacturing units and wholesale warehouses, to prevent diversion and strengthen supply chain monitoring.
Taken together, the measures signal a dual strategy: cracking down on illicit liquor trade while formalising and monetising the legal market with 'Assam Made Liquor' positioned as the centrepiece of that effort.
