Delhi govt to open 500 liquor stores in city by August 31

The city will also get two premium liquor stores by August 31 and 20 of them by the end year, said a state panel in a recommendation to the government.

The Delhi government should open 500 retail liquor stores by August 31 and 200 more by the end of the year, said a panel put together by the state to ensure a smooth transition to the previous policy, as authorities work overtime to ensure Delhi doesn’t face a crippling supply shortage when the old regime kicks in from September 1.

New Delhi, India - Aug. 2, 2022: A closed liquor shop in South Extension in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. (Photo by Amal KS / Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

The recommendation has been submitted for consideration to the finance department, which, officials said, is likely to accept the suggestions. HT has seen a copy of the report.

Four government agencies in the liquor business will set up at least two premium vends in August, and 20 by December 31 this year, the report said.

While details on the contours of the premium stores are still sketchy, officials aware of the matter said they will be larger than the regular liquor vends and be opened in “upscale areas”.

“The size of the shops will also depend upon the availability of space and the premium vends will be opened in upscale areas. The focus of the committee is on ensuring that all areas can be well served and there is no underserved area,” said the state government official.

The report is part of a series of moves the government is making to ensure that Delhi does not go dry once it reverts to the previous excise policy that was in place before the 2021-22 regime kicked in. The reversal came after LG VK Saxena last month asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe alleged lapses and irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy, which was due to expire on July 31 this year.

Manish Sisodia, who is also Delhi’s excise and finance minister, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing “dirty politics to promote liquor mafia” in Delhi. On July 30, he said the arrangement of shutting private shops would be temporary (for about six months) till the time a new excise policy is put in place under which fresh tenders will have to be floated for private entities.

Extension of excise policy approved, Delhi liquor stores, bars to reopen

Vinod Giri, director general of the confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), said competition in private liquor trade leads to innovation in retailing, wide product choices and quality customer experience.

“States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala which have government monopoly in retailing are known to have very poor customer experience and few product choices. The government must balance its own presence, if it chooses to have so, with sufficient private retail. Under any circumstances, the most important thing is to have a consistent and predictable excise policy for long term to help industry plan and execute properly to the benefit of all stakeholders,” said Giri.

The excise committee has also recommended a common criterion to decide the rent that these agencies pay for spaces they operate liquor vends out of.

“The rent may not be uniform across areas, but the overall expenditure for rent is capped up to 15% of the anticipated profit on the sale of liquor,” said another member of the committee. An exception of 15% cap may be allowed in case the vend is located in any mall or other commercial complex for the purpose of opening of premium vends, the recommendation stated.

A Delhi government official said that the committee was asked to identify areas for each of the four government agencies where vends will be opened by them besides identifying and fixing the number of shops to be opened by the four agencies.