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Event liquor licence · KarnatakaDo you need a liquor licence for a corporate party in Karnataka?

When the venue’s bar licence covers you, when you need a CL-5 occasional licence, and what the 2026 fee revision means for your budget.

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The short answer

The short answer on a special event liquor licence

Serving alcohol at a corporate party in Karnataka needs either a venue that holds its own bar licence for that space or a CL-5 occasional licence from the Excise department. Under the 2026 Rules a non-commercial CL-5 costs ₹20,000 per day, a commercial one ₹75,000, and same-day tatkal licences cost double.

Rules change; we confirm current requirements with the authority for your date. This page describes what organisers typically need, from the sources linked. It is not legal advice.

The fees

How much does a liquor licence cost for an event in Karnataka?

In May 2026 Karnataka split the CL-5 occasional licence into four categories and moved issuance fully online after payment.

CL-5 category (2026 Rules)Fee per dayWhen it applies
Non-commercial event₹20,000Private functions not sold to the public — the usual category for an invite-only company party
Commercial event₹75,000Events run commercially, such as ticketed shows
Tatkal non-commercial₹40,000Non-commercial, applied for within 24 hours of the event
Tatkal commercial₹1,50,000Commercial, applied for within 24 hours of the event

Karnataka Excise (Sale of Indian and Foreign Liquors) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified 26 May 2026 (Karnataka Excise Second Amendment Rules 2026). Using a non-commercial licence for a commercial event attracts a penalty of three times the commercial fee. Fees are per day; confirm the category with the Excise office.

Who needs it

When you need a CL-5 — and when the venue covers you

The question to ask first is not “how do we get a licence” but “whose licence will the bar run under”.

  • Hotel or club with a bar licence. Ask the venue in writing whether its licence covers service in the room you are booking, and whether you may bring your own stock. If it does, the bar runs under their licence and their staff.
  • Resort lawn, farmhouse, banquet hall or office without a bar licence. Expect to need a CL-5 occasional licence for the day.
  • Ticketed or sponsored event. Treat it as commercial; the commercial fee and penalties apply.
  • Late decision. Tatkal licences exist for applications within 24 hours of the event, at twice the regular fee.

Excise licences are handled through the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) of the district (Agile Regulatory). The 2026 amendment allows CL-5 licences to be issued online once the fee is paid (Karnataka Excise Second Amendment Rules 2026).

Worked example

A 250-person Diwali party in Bangalore

A company books a banquet hall in Koramangala for 250 employees on a Friday evening. The hall serves food but holds no bar licence. The bar is invite-only and free to guests, so it is a non-commercial event: one day at ₹20,000 under the 2026 Rules. Applied for a week ahead, it stays at that rate; left to the last 24 hours, it becomes tatkal at ₹40,000 (Karnataka Excise Second Amendment Rules 2026).

The licence is only one line. The bar budget also carries stock, bartenders, glassware, ice and a closing time agreed with the venue — and a plan for getting guests home. See corporate Diwali party planning.

What changes the answer

What changes the answer

  • Dry days. No service on notified dry days, whatever the licence; check your date early.
  • Multi-day events. CL-5 fees are per day, so a two-night offsite with bars on both nights is two days.
  • Goa and Kerala. Each state has its own excise rules and offices; a Karnataka CL-5 does not apply there. We confirm with the local excise office.
  • Rule changes. The fee structure changed in 2026 and may change again.
FAQ

Questions people ask before they book

What is a special event liquor licence in Karnataka?
It is the CL-5 occasional licence issued by the Excise department for serving alcohol at a function on a specific day, where the venue’s own bar licence does not cover it. Since May 2026 it comes in commercial, non-commercial and tatkal categories, issued online after payment.
How much does it cost to get a liquor licence for an event in Bangalore?
Under the Karnataka Excise Second Amendment Rules 2026: ₹20,000 per day for a non-commercial event, ₹75,000 for a commercial event, ₹40,000 for tatkal non-commercial and ₹1,50,000 for tatkal commercial. Stock, bar staff and venue charges are separate. Fees are per day, so a two-evening programme pays twice.
Our office party is in a 5-star hotel — do we still need a CL-5?
Usually not, if the hotel’s bar licence covers service in your function room and the hotel runs the bar. Get that confirmation in writing in the venue contract. If you plan to bring your own stock or the room is outside the licensed area, ask the hotel and the Excise office.
We are planning a 400-person sales party at a resort lawn near Devanahalli — who applies for the licence?
Normally the organiser or the venue applies to the district Excise office, with the event details and fee. Decide early who holds it, because the licence holder is responsible for the bar. We line this up with the resort when the contract is signed.
Can we apply for an event liquor licence on the day?
Yes, but at the tatkal rate — applications within 24 hours before the event cost twice the regular fee under the 2026 Rules. Apply once the venue, date and headcount are fixed to stay on the regular fee. Licences are issued online once the fee is paid, so the paperwork is quick; the cost is the penalty for leaving it late.
What happens if we use a non-commercial licence for a ticketed event?
The 2026 Rules set a penalty of three times the commercial event fee when a non-commercial licence is used for a commercial event. If tickets are sold or sponsors are involved, take the commercial category. At the 2026 rates that is ₹2,25,000 per day, against a ₹75,000 commercial licence.
The brief

Tell us about the event

Rough is fine. Headcount, a city, a month. We come back with venue options, a format and a cost range you can take to your leadership — before you commit to anything.

  • Itemised estimate: venue, food, production, logistics and our fee as separate lines
  • Venue options checked for your date, headcount and layout
  • GST invoicing for your finance team

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