ahmedabad the supreme courts remarks suggesting that hotels within 500 metres of highway stretches withing cities can be exempted from its liquor ban has been welcomed by hoteliers the apex court on tuesday mentioned that road stretches within city limits may be denotified as national highways estimates by hotels and restaurants association of gujarat indicate some 16 liquor shops across the state will benefit from the supreme courts relaxation in its ban orderconfirming this director of prohibition and excise s h dholi said the the state government will study the supreme court order officials will soon take an appropriate decision regarding the matter there are 16 such licensed liquor shops across gujarat located within 500 metres of the highway dholi saidthese include liquor stores at the grand bhagwati hotel ramada and novotel in ahmedabad hotel lakshya and real wines in anand the grand bhagwati in surat lords eco in dahej narayani heights and fortune landmark haveli in gandhinagar hotel oasis and horizon hospitality nadiad hotel pryso in ankleshwar hotel hari mangala in bharuch tree top resorts and spa at bhavnagar hotel arti international at mundra and shankus water park at mehsanawe are positive about the recommendations of the supreme court and hope that the government will soon issue a notification lifting the ban in gujarat the decision was of not much significance as the state already has a prohibition policy and nobody get liquors without a permit said narendra somani president hotels and restaurants association of gujaratin many hotels an estimated 30 of the guests are foreign nationals hence businesses of these hotels were significantly affected after their liquor shops were shut ridul deka general manager novotel said they had had opened their liquor store just two months back then we had to shut it once the blanket ban was issued by the supreme court if the ban is lifted it will prove extremely beneficial for the industry as it is difficult to attract guests from abroad without a liquor store and is affecting the industry at large deka said