Ladakh’s Women Unite Across Faiths to Demand Total Liquor Ban

SRINAGAR: In a rare show of unity cutting across religious and social lines, women representatives from Ladakh’s Muslim and Buddhist communities have demanded a complete ban on the sale and consumption of liquor in the Union Territory, describing alcohol as a social evil that threatens the region’s cultural fabric, public health and social harmony.

The demand was strongly articulated during a high-level meeting held in Leh on Tuesday, where women representatives from several religious and community organisations met senior officials of the Ladakh administration to press for the declaration of Ladakh as a completely dry Union Territory. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra and attended by Excise Commissioner Romil Singh Donk, representatives of the All Ladakh Gompa Association, Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), Anjuman Imamia Leh, ALGAHA, ALTOA and other stakeholders.

During the deliberations, women representatives voiced deep concern over what they described as the rapid expansion of liquor outlets and bars across Ladakh. They argued that the increased availability of alcohol was incompatible with the region’s unique cultural and spiritual traditions, which have for centuries been shaped by Buddhism and Islam, the two principal religions practiced in the Himalayan region. The participants urged the administration to reverse what they perceive as the growing commercialisation of alcohol and impose a blanket prohibition on its sale and consumption.

The issue gained prominence amid mounting public opposition to the administration’s excise policy. Officials informed the meeting that, responding to widespread public sentiment, the administration had already rolled back the proposed Excise Policy 2026-27 and reinstated the Excise Policy 2025-26. Participants were briefed on the current licensing status under the restored policy.

According to officials, Ladakh had two retail liquor vends until last year, but only one such outlet is presently functional. However, concerns have intensified over the sharp increase in bar licences. While 23 bars attached to restaurants were operational earlier, the issuance of 17 additional licences has raised the total number of such establishments to 40, fuelling public anxieties over easier access to alcohol.

Women leaders speaking at the meeting maintained that the proliferation of bars and liquor-serving facilities could have serious social consequences, particularly for younger generations. They stressed that Ladakh’s traditional values and close-knit community structure were under threat and warned that increased alcohol consumption could contribute to a range of social problems, including addiction, domestic distress and public disorder.

Chief Secretary Kundra acknowledged the concerns raised by the women’s groups and said public sentiment deserved serious consideration. At the same time, he cautioned that declaring Ladakh a completely dry territory was a complex policy issue requiring careful examination of its broader implications.

Pointing to experiences in states such as Bihar and Haryana, the Chief Secretary observed that complete prohibition had, in some instances, led to the emergence of illicit liquor networks and the spread of spurious alcohol and narcotic substances. He noted that the issue was not merely administrative but also cultural and societal in nature, requiring a balanced evaluation of both the intended benefits and possible unintended consequences.

Kundra further highlighted the economic dimension of the debate, noting that tourism remains the primary driver of Ladakh’s economy. Any decision on prohibition, he said, must also take into account the concerns of the hospitality sector, including hotel owners, tour operators and travel associations, many of whom are directly linked to the region’s tourism industry.

Emphasising the need for consensus-building, the Chief Secretary said that any future policy decision should emerge through a broad-based consultative process involving religious organisations, women’s groups, tourism stakeholders, business associations and representatives of civil society. He suggested that the LBA take the lead in convening wider consultations aimed at finding common ground and exploring a possible middle-path solution acceptable to all stakeholders.

Reiterating the administration’s commitment to dialogue, Kundra assured participants that the government remained flexible in its policymaking approach and was open to considering alternative solutions if a consensus emerged among stakeholders. He also indicated that a larger consultation meeting could be convened in the near future to ensure all viewpoints are adequately represented before any final decision is taken.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of intensifying protests across Ladakh over the expansion of liquor licences. Women's organisations, social groups, village committees and religious bodies have been staging demonstrations and awareness campaigns, arguing that the administration has failed to adequately consult local communities before implementing changes to alcohol policy.

The controversy received a fresh boost this week after noted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk publicly criticised the administration’s approach to liquor licensing. In a strongly worded post on social media, Wangchuk accused the administration of promoting alcohol while simultaneously claiming to be combating drug abuse in the Union Territory.

Drawing attention to ongoing protests by women’s groups, Wangchuk said community organisations had been demonstrating for several days against what they described as the forcible opening of bars and liquor-serving establishments in villages, homestays, guesthouses and areas close to schools and places of worship. He also questioned what he called the contradiction between efforts to expand alcohol availability in Ladakh and the existence of prohibition policies in other parts of the country.

At the heart of the debate is a larger question confronting Ladakh as it balances rapid tourism-driven growth with the preservation of its fragile social and cultural landscape. While the administration argues that regulated liquor sales help curb illegal alcohol trade and create a controlled framework suited to a growing tourism economy, critics insist that revenue considerations should not outweigh public health concerns or the wishes of local communities.