Ladakh Admin Slams Sonam Wangchuk: Excise Policy Claims 'False and Baseless'
The Ladakh administration has dismissed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's claims about the promotion of alcohol in the UT as false and baseless.
The Union Territory Administration of Ladakh has launched a scathing rebuttal against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, dismissing his allegations regarding the Ladakh excise policy as "totally imaginary" and "false." In an official press release, the administration cautioned Wangchuk against "rumour mongering" after he made several claims during a press conference in New Delhi on October 22.
The Allegations: What Sonam Wangchuk Claimed
Speaking at Ladakh Bhavan in New Delhi, Sonam Wangchuk accused the Lieutenant Governor of acting arbitrarily. He claimed that alcohol was being forcibly promoted across the region, alleging that a decision had been made to open liquor shops everywhere in Ladakh despite repeated written representations and protests from the public.
Wangchuk further asserted that bars were being forcibly opened in every street and neighborhood, specifically mentioning that some were being established even near schools. He highlighted that hundreds of women were staging protests against these developments.
The Administration's Counter: Only One Shop Operational
The Ladakh administration has categorically denied these claims, stating that the assertion that alcohol is being forcibly promoted is "misleading." To counter the narrative of widespread liquor shops, the administration revealed a startling fact: there is currently only one operational liquor shop in the entire Union Territory.
The Policy Rollback
The administration provided a detailed timeline of the excise policies to clarify the situation:
- June 1, 2026: The new Excise Policy 2026-27 was notified.
- August 26, 2026: After receiving feedback from social organizations and the public, the Lieutenant Governor rolled back the new policy to respect public sentiments.
- Current Status: The proposal for new wine shops was withdrawn, and the auction notice was cancelled. The old Excise Policy 2025-26 was restored.
Under the restored old policy, only two shops were permitted in Leh (Ward No. 4 and Ward No. 6). However, since no bid was received for Ward No. 4, only the shop in Ward No. 6 became operational after an auction on October 14, 2026. This means there are actually fewer operational shops now than there were previously.
Addressing the 'Bars Near Schools' Claim
Regarding the claim that bars are popping up in every street and near educational institutions, the administration shared the current official records of liquor vends in bars with restaurants:
- Leh: 38 vends
- Nubra: 7 vends
- Zanskar: 3 vends
- Changthang: 2 vends
Additionally, there are two beer bars in Leh and ten hotels (nine in Leh and one in Nubra) that hold liquor licenses. The administration emphasized that licenses are only granted to those who follow strict norms, including "distance criteria" that prohibit such establishments from being near highways, religious sites, and educational institutions.
'Create Unnecessary Public Alarm'
The administration concluded that Wangchuk's statements were a "deliberate campaign of falsehood and misinformation" designed to create unnecessary alarm among the public. They advised the activist to verify facts from official sources before sharing "imaginary claims" with the national media and the general public.