Delhi liquor shortage crisis could worsen in coming months as new excise policy comes into force from November 16

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, September 29

Delhi is witnessing a liquor shortage as new retail licenses will come into force from mid-November.

All the private retail vendors had stopped restocking their supplies since they had to shut their respective shops from October 1 to ensure an easy-going transition to the new excise regime, which starts from November 16.

Under the new excise policy of the city government, retail liquor sale licences have already been allocated to the highest bidders in 32 zones, each having around 10 wards and 27 liquor vendors.

This crisis will only worsen in the coming weeks as demand will only shoot up in the months of October and November ahead of the festive season.

Currently, there are 849 liquor stores in Delhi, of which 276 are privately run. The rest are operated by Delhi government agencies.

This is not good news for the rest of the 106 municipal wards for Delhi in which no liquor shops will open till November 16.

The Delhi government has made its new liquor policy public in the month of July which states equal distribution of liquor outlets in the national capital.

The policy made itself clear that the government will exit the business of selling liquor through its undertaking.

The equal distribution of liquor outlets includes at least two air-conditioned vends in every municipal ward, five super-premium stores, and 10 stores at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

It is being done to eliminate overcharging and brand influence. In contrast to the older policy in which the licensee is not allowed to give any discount or rebate on the MRP, the new policy will leave the licensee to decide on these matters.