Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Nargol Sarpanch Seeks Controlled Relaxation of Gujarat Liquor Ban
Sweetie Bhandari is the village leader of Nargol in Gujarat.
She asked Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to change some liquor prohibition rules.
She does not want liquor sold everywhere without rules.
Instead, she suggested special places where traditional toddy and liquor could be sold under strict controls.
Toddy is a drink traditionally collected from palm trees.
Some local families used to earn money from this trade before prohibition stopped it.
Supporters believe legal sales could reduce dangerous illegal alcohol and smuggling.
They also say the plan could help tourism, jobs and government income.
Gujarat’s existing prohibition system would still be changed only in a limited and experimental way under the proposal.
Sweetie Bhandari, sarpanch of Nargol, urged Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to relax prohibition rules.
The proposal seeks regulated sales of traditional toddy and liquor at designated locations.
Supporters say controls could reduce illicit alcohol, smuggling and illegally produced liquor.
The proposal cites potential benefits for government revenue, tourism, hospitality and local employment.
Nargol’s historic toddy trade ended after prohibition, while its coastal tourism development strengthens the case for review.
- Who
- Sweetie Bhandari, sarpanch of Nargol, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
- What
- Bhandari proposed an experimental, controlled relaxation of Gujarat’s liquor prohibition rules, including permission to sell traditional toddy.
- When
- The proposal was reported on September 1, 2026.
- Where
- Nargol village in Umargam, Valsad district, Gujarat.
- Why
- The proposal cites concerns about illicit liquor and smuggling, as well as possible benefits for traditional livelihoods, tourism, employment and government revenue.
Controlled-Relaxation Advocates
Prohibition Status Quo
Alcohol regulation
Controlled-Relaxation Advocates
Bhandari’s proposal supports limited sales of toddy and liquor through designated outlets and strict controls.
Prohibition Status Quo
Gujarat’s prohibition framework remains in place; the article does not quote prohibition supporters or describe a separate counterproposal.
Illegal alcohol
Controlled-Relaxation Advocates
Supporters argue regulated sales could provide an alternative to illicitly produced alcohol and reduce smuggling.
Prohibition Status Quo
No opposing argument is directly reported in the article against the claim that regulation could reduce illegal alcohol.
Local economy
Controlled-Relaxation Advocates
The proposal points to possible gains for tourism, hospitality, employment, government revenue and traditional toddy-based livelihoods.
Prohibition Status Quo
The article does not report a response disputing these potential economic benefits.
- Proposer
- Sweetie Bhandari, sarpanch of Nargol village
- Recipient
- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel
- Main request
- Controlled, experimental sales of liquor and traditional toddy
- Suggested controls
- Designated locations and official permissions
- Traditional trade
- Toddy collection was historically associated with Bhandari and Parsi families in Nargol and surrounding areas
- Coastline
- Nargol has around five kilometres of coastline
- Nearby regions
- Nargol is near Maharashtra, Daman and Silvassa, where alcohol is permitted under different rules