Bhubaneswar, Sept 13: The Odisha government has withdrawn its proposal to serve liquor in beach shacks on Puri beach, opting instead to support a liquor ban in religious areas, according to a notification issued by the Excise Department. The government has made it clear that liquor will not be allowed in beach shacks to promote tourism.

The notification specifies that liquor sales will be prohibited within the jurisdiction of Puri Municipality and within a 5 km radius of any site of socio-religious-cultural significance in the state.

Previously, the Odisha Tourism Department had issued licenses for serving liquor in beach shacks. However, the new directive emphasizes that allowing alcohol in Puri, the sacred land of Lord Jagannath, contradicts the region's religious and cultural importance.

No further licenses will be issued for operating beach shacks in Puri or near any other culturally significant places across Odisha.

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