Ladakh Excise Department denied Sonam Wangchuk's claim that bars open "every street" across Ladakh, citing only one standalone liquor shop in the Union Territory. Under the new policy, 20 shops were slated. The department said the 2026-27 Excise Policy, announced on June 1, had been rolled back on August 26 after residents and social organisations demanded a halt to the expansion.
The department listed 50 liquor vendors attached to restaurants: 38 in Leh, seven in Nubra, three in Zanskar and two in Changthang. Leh also hosts two beer bars, nine hotels with licences, including four granted this year, and a Nubra hotel licence in 2026.
Wangchuk, speaking at Ladakh Bhavan, claimed 500 to 1,000 women protested against liquor sales and that bars were opening near schools, despite distance rules. He accused Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena of "firing alcohol cannons" to curb drug abuse, calling the policy "totally imaginary."
Women from Buddhist, Muslim and Christian organisations staged a rally and later a sit‑in at NDS Park, demanding Ladakh be declared a dry Union Territory. Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra warned that prohibition could hurt tourism, jobs and fuel illicit liquor trade.
The department urged Wangchuk to consult official records before making further public allegations, signalling a cautious approach to future policy debates.