The state of Gujarat has a Prohibition law in force that proscribes the sale, purchase and consumption of alcoholic drinks. The sumptuary law has been in force since May 1, 1960 when the Bombay state dissolved into Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Gujarat is the only state in India that has the death penalty for those found guilty of making and selling spurious liquor which causes death. Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal gave her stamp of approval to the Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2009 on December 5, two years after it was cleared by the Gujarat assembly.[1]
A system of temporary and longer-term permits is in place, which allows the holder to purchase liquor from designated places. Predictably, smuggling and illicit sale of alcohol are very common [1].
The Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 is still in force in both the states, however the licensing regime in Maharashtra is quite liberal with granting licenses to vendors and traders.