This ran in todays Times of India.. Thought you visitors and Expats might like to read

Psst... Drink now, get a high after 7 yrs!

Gujarat’s New Tourism Policy Will Focus On Relaxing The Dry Laws By Giving A Free Hand To Premium Hotels For Issuing Permits. The Catch Is It Will Be Effected After 7 Yrs, Finds Himanshu Kaushik

Ahmedabad: State government has decided to revamp tourism with a fresh perspective on drinking laws. To begin with, the new tourism policy — now under construction — has decided to give a free hand to three and five star hotels to issue liquor permits.
This, said officials was coming as a major hindrance in promoting tourism. Officials said that new tourism policy will promote three and five star hotels in the state by giving them advantage of issuing permits to visitors.
During Vibrant Gujarat, several projects for three and five star hotels and that too even at relatively small destinations came forth. However, liquor was one area where state fell far behind while promoting tourism as compared to other states. State had already relaxed the prohibition laws allowing outsiders to get a permit from a licenced liquor shop.
However, in Ahmedabad liquor permits were issued only at four places. This new policy will ensure that the handicap is removed. A top government functionary told TOI that this relaxed policy was not known to many and hence not many were able to take the benefit.
“State should also give permission for a bar where liquor can be served. However, this bar should be accessible only to those who have permits,” said the functionary. Officials said that government has recently also given relaxation to prohibition law in special economic zones (SEZ). Apart from this, one should also have aggressive marketing as other states.