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Dry days by state

Is it a dry day today?

Pick your state to see whether licensed liquor sale is closed today, the next 7 days and the next dry day, from state excise orders where we could find them.

Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources

How it works

  • A dry day is a day when licensed liquor shops (and often bars) must stay closed by order of the state excise department.
  • Most states keep 26 January, 15 August and 2 October as dry days. Many add festival days; Delhi announces its list a few months at a time.
  • Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, Mizoram and Lakshadweep have prohibition, so there is no sale on any day.
  • Election and vote counting days are declared locally by the District Collector or excise office. Check local notices for those.
  • Where we could not find an official list for your state, we say so and show only the common national days.

Questions people ask

What is a dry day?

A day on which the state excise department orders licensed liquor shops, and often bars and clubs, to stay closed. The rules differ by state and by type of licence.

Which days are dry days all over India?

There is no single national list; each state decides. Most states close sale on Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October).

Which states have prohibition?

Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram have prohibition laws, and Lakshadweep does not allow sale on its inhabited islands. In these places sale is not allowed on any day (Gujarat has a permit system).

What about election days?

Sale stops for 48 hours ending with the close of polling, and on counting day, in the area going to polls. The District Collector or excise office announces the exact days, so check local notices.

Are hotel bars closed on dry days too?

It depends on the state and the day. In Delhi, for example, most 2026 dry days apply only to liquor shops, while hotel and restaurant bars close on 26 January, 15 August and 2 October.

Sources

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