Assam Government Safeguards Traditional Alcoholic Beverages for Indigenous Communities
Policy Shift to Protect Cultural Heritage
File image of a stall selling Judima (traditional Dimasa alcohol) in Judima Festival (Photo: @GorlosaNandita/X)
Guwahati, June 14: In a landmark decision, the Assam government has granted exclusive rights for the production of traditional alcoholic beverages to their respective indigenous and tribal communities. This initiative aims to safeguard the state's rich cultural heritage from commercial exploitation.
This reform, part of the Assam Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2026, was officially announced by the Assam Commissionerate of Excise and published in the Assam Gazette on June 12.
During a press conference after a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that the decision was influenced by the increasing trend of external commercial entities producing and selling traditional tribal drinks.
“Certain commercial firms have begun to manufacture and market traditional alcoholic beverages created by Assam's indigenous populations, such as xaj and rohi. We have resolved that such enterprises should only be conducted by the respective indigenous communities,” Sarma stated.
He provided specific examples related to different communities. “For instance, a shop dedicated to selling traditional xaj should ideally be operated by an Ahom family. Likewise, rohi ought to be produced by members of the Mising community, and laupani by individuals from the Bodo community,” the Chief Minister elaborated, emphasizing that no community would be allowed to produce another's traditional beverage.
Sarma also raised concerns regarding authenticity, particularly mentioning judima, the traditional drink of the Dimasa community.
“If these beverages are created by groups unfamiliar with the traditional methods, there is a risk of losing their originality, leading to a diluted product,” he remarked. “These drinks are integral to our culture, and their quality must be preserved.”
According to the amended regulations, licenses for producing heritage alcoholic beverages will be issued strictly to local indigenous individuals or groups formed by the relevant tribal or ethnic communities.
The notification also includes several supportive reforms. The application fee for a heritage liquor micro-manufactory has been reduced from Rs 25,000 to Rs 15,000, while the retail vend license fee has been significantly lowered from Rs 5,000 to Rs 500. Additionally, production capacity for micro-manufactories is limited to 1,000 liters per day.
Furthermore, the amendment introduces a new category termed “Assam Made Liquor” (AML), with an alcohol content of 17.12% v/v (70° UP). The application fee for a manufacturing license under AML is set at Rs 1 lakh, with the vend license fee at Rs 50,000.
As defined in the Gazette notification, heritage alcoholic beverages are drinks made from fermented grains or fruits using traditional starter cakes, containing no more than 12% alcohol by volume.