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UT Administration clarifies that “There is only one liquor shop in the entire Ladakh”.
Mr Sonam Wangchuk on 22 October 2026 made the following statement:
“Lieutenant Governor साहब मनमानी कर रहे है। अभी, आज जैसे मैं आपसे बात कर रहा हूँ, वहाँ पर 500 से 1000 महिलाएँ धरने पर हैं। क्यों? वो ये कह रहे हैं कि लद्दाख में शराब को ज़बरदस्ती बढ़ाया जा रहा है। आपको पता है, कोई 2 महीने पहले लद्दाख में शराब की दुकानें हर जगह खोलने का फैसला किया गया। लोगों ने बार-बार लिख के दिया, विरोध-प्रदर्शन हुए, उसके बाद भी ज़बरदस्ती हर गली, हर मोहल्ले, हर विद्यालय के पास Bars खोले जा रहे हैं।”
The above statements were made by Mr Wangchuk at a press conference held on October 22, 2026, at Ladakh Bhavan in New Delhi. The same is available all over the Print, TV/Digital and social media.
The UT Administration of Ladakh has taken serious note of the statements made by Mr Sonam Wangchuk. The Administration categorically rejects such statements of Mr Wangchuk as “false”, “baseless” and “totally imaginary”.
The Administration hereby clarifies:
1. With regards to the opening of the liquor stores, the facts are as under:
The new Excise Policy 2026-27, was notified vide S.O. 198, dated June 1, 2026.
Upon receiving feedback and suggestions from the people / social organizations, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, respecting their sentiments, rolled back the Excise Policy on August 26, 2026.
The proposal for opening wine shops under this new policy was also withdrawn by the Hon’ble LG, and the auction notice issued pursuant to it, was also cancelled.
Following the rollback, the implementation of the old Excise Policy 2025-26, notified vide S.O. 35 dated April 4, 2025, was restored through S.O. 256 dated August 26, 2026, and remains in force.
As per the old Excise Policy, only two liquor shops in Leh were permitted in ward no 4 and 6.
Ward No. 6, Leh: One wine shop became operational following an auction on October 14, 2026.
and No. 4, Leh: No bid was received in the auction; hence no shop was opened.
Consequently, as on date, only ONE liquor shop is operational in the entire Ladakh as earlier it was two. Hence the statement of Mr Wangchuk that “लद्दाख में शराब को ज़बरदस्ती बढ़ाया जा रहा है”, is totally false and misleading.
2. With regards to opening of Bars, the following are the facts:
As on date, 50 Retail vend of liquor in a bar with restaurant – 38 in Leh, 07 in Nubra, 03 in Zanskar and 02 in Changthang are currently operational across the Union Territory. 02 beer bars are also operational in Leh. Besides this, 09 hotels in Leh have liquor license, out of which 04 have applied and issued this year. One hotel in Nubra also applied and got license this year.
Licences are issued to only those who apply as per norms and are issued in accordance with the “distance criteria” from highways, religious and educational institutions. The distance criteria has also been adopted for the license issued to hotels also. Hence, Mr Wangchuk’s claim of opening “Bars in every street, locality & around schools” also holds no ground.
These official records contradict Mr Wangchuk’s deliberate campaign of falsehood and misinformation that “liquor shops are being opened in every nook and corner of Ladakh”. Clearly, the averments made by Mr Wangchuk are false, baseless and to “create unnecessary public alarm”.
The Administration advises Mr Wangchuk to take a brief pause from such statements and verify the facts, from official sources, before feeding completely false and imaginary claims to the national media and the people at large.
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