Chandigarh, June 25 -- Not showing much of a buoyant trade sentiment, liquor contractors in Haryana seem to be holding themselves back from making bids for the allotment of unsold liquor vends under the 2025-27 excise policy which is spread over two financial years.

Following completion of two more rounds (seven in all) of the bidding in the last five days for allotment of liquor vends, only 41 retail liquor zones out of the 260 unsold zones across 20 districts could be sold. This despite the fact that the excise and taxation department had reduced the reserve price for the unsold 260 zones.

Liquor contractors say that the trade sentiment remains gloomy due to meddling of criminal gangs in the liquor business and worsening of law-and-or...