Leh, Nov. 1 -- The All Ladakh Hotels and Bars Association has accused climate activist Sonam Wangchuk of "hypocrisy and double standards" over his demand for a complete ban on liquor sales in Ladakh, alleging that members of his family are manufacturing and selling unlicensed apple wine under the brand name 'UIey' at their resort in the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference in Leh on October 31, association president Namgyal Punchok questioned Wangchuk's opposition to licensed liquor businesses while allegedly overlooking the production and sale of homemade wine at Uley Ethnic Resort, owned by his brother in their ancestral village of Uley Tokpo.
The association alleged that the wine, marketed as 'Ule Tokpo Apple Homemade Wine', was being manufactured and sold without the licences required for commercial liquor businesses. It questioned why the UT administration had not taken action against the alleged unlicensed operation while legitimate hotel and bar owners were facing criticism over liquor sales.
The controversy follows Wangchuk's recent campaign demanding a dry Ladakh. At a press conference at Ladakh Bhavan in Delhi on October 22, he alleged that alcohol was being forcibly promoted in the region, with bars operating near residential areas and schools. He also accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of promoting alcohol while claiming to tackle drug abuse.
The administration had rejected his allegations as baseless and described them as a deliberate misinformation campaign. It maintained that only one liquor shop was operating in the Union Territory and said the 2026-27 excise policy had been withdrawn on August 26 following public representations to the L-G.
On October 28, Wangchuk joined women demanding prohibition in Ladakh. During the same visit, he also advocated tax exemptions for local breweries. The hotel and bar association questioned what it described as selective opposition to alcohol, alleging that Wangchuk supported traditional local brews such as chang while campaigning against licensed liquor businesses.
It further claimed that legitimate hotel and bar operators contribute Rs 112-115 crore in taxes to the government and alleged that their livelihoods were being threatened by the campaign.
The association also accused Wangchuk of selective activism on environmental issues, questioning his alleged silence on the ecological impact of the local meat industry. It urged Wangchuk to stop targeting lawful businesses and called upon the UT administration to examine its allegations against the family-linked wine operation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.