The Bhutanese Leading the way.
In response to rising public concern over alcohol abuse and the spread of bars across Bhutan, the National Assembly (NA) has directed the Women, Children and Youth Committee to conduct a thorough review of the existing bar licensing system for the Winter Session.
This move follows a petition submitted by Shompangkha MP Dr Tek Bahadur Rai, who highlighted the need for urgent reforms to control alcohol-related harm and protect vulnerable groups, particularly youth and rural communities.
He expressed deep concern over the unregulated accessibility of alcohol, citing that Bhutan now has 9,717 licensed bars, or roughly one for every 45 people.
He said that there is no one to monitor the quality and sale of alcohol.
MP Dr Tek Bdr Rai said, “Government-to-Citizen (G2C) platform allows individuals to obtain bar licenses with minimal inspection. There is an urgent need to revise alcohol-related policies. Nearly 50 percent of crops in rural areas are being used to brew alcohol.”
He questioned long-standing cultural practices that normalize excessive drinking.
In response, Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk acknowledged the issue and outlined ongoing efforts to revise the National Policy and Strategic Framework to reduce harmful alcohol use.
He said that the ministry is currently developing the second version of the policy under the 13th Five-Year Plan’s Healthy Drukyul initiative.
He also said, “Cases of alcoholic liver disease remain consistently high. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 12,000 cases of liver-related illness were reported. According to ministry data, 40.2 percent of Bhutanese aged 15–69 consume alcohol annually, with 35.5 percent consume once a month and 39.9 percent frequent consumers. Nearly 30.7 percent of households still produce homemade alcohol, with 17.7 percent using methanol in it which is a dangerously toxic substance.”
Subsequently, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment, Namgyal Dorji, shared that previously bar and restaurant license were differently procured, which after 2023 was made as one.
Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji said that currently more than 10,346 restaurants own bar license. Highest number in Thimphu with 1,380, followed by Sarpang with 1,240, Trashiyangtse with 149, Haa with 132 and Gasa with 64.
He shared that bar licenses are issued based on existing rules and conditions which prohibits selling alcohol to children below 18 years, closing timing after 12 pm and many more.
“The ease of applying online was part of broader efforts to facilitate business, but licensees are legally required to comply with terms including restrictions on sales to minors and alcohol labeling.”
“While human resource constraints limit enforcement, local officials and gewog administrations are actively monitoring bar operations,” he added.
He said that the upcoming Excise Bill 2025 includes provisions for higher taxation on alcohol, a measure against high alcohol consumption.
Furthermore, MP Dr Tek Bdr Rai shared that according to the World Health Organization, Bhutan’s per capita alcohol consumption stands at 8.5 litres annually, the highest in South-East Asia. In 2024 alone, 2,944 cases of drunk driving were recorded, resulting in 225 road accidents and six deaths. Over the past five years, there have been 1,527 domestic violence cases linked to alcohol use, 2,625 alcohol related disease in 2023, 150 deaths and highest risk of getting cancer.
He said that the economic burden is equally staggering the country spends approximately Nu 6.5 billion each year on alcohol-related health care services.
