Delhi Govt Decides To Keep Private Liquor Shops Open For One More Month: Here's All About It

The Delhi government on Sunday decided to extend existing licences of liquor shops till August 31 after private vends witnessed utter chaos owing to liquor shortage in the city. This comes after Delhi govt decided to roll back new excise policy leading all privately-owned liquor outlets to shut shop.

What's happening

Let's understand what's happening in depth. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia announced on Saturday that the AAP government¡¯s Excise Policy 2021-22 will be scrapped. This means that all privately-owned liquor outlets will have to shut shop temporarily.

Unsplash/Representational image

With all privately-owned wine and beer outlets shutting shop owing to the withdrawal of the Excise Policy, the capital was likely staring at a major liquor shortage in the coming days.

So, on Sunday, the liquor shops saw extreme rush with owners selling out existing stock. Imported alcohol was sold at half price, bottles were flying off the shelves and long queues were seen outside the shops.

The current situation

If you're wondering what's happening right now, let's talk about it. The private liquor stores numbering 468 in Delhi were scheduled to shut shop from Monday after expiry of their licences on July 31. But, preempting chaos, Delhi government has decided to extended the existing licenses for one month.

However, the liquor shops will open only after the excise department's order following the Lieutenant Governor's nod, they said.

delhi liquor policy

"The government has sent decision of its Cabinet to extend existing liquor vend licences for one month, up to August 31, to the Lt Governor. Orders allowing the liquor stores to remain open after July 31 will be issued after LG's approval," officials said.

Why has govt rolled back the new policy?

But, why is the govt rolling back the new policy? Delhi government has decided to revert back to old excise regime and run liquor stores through its agencies after realising that the Excise Policy 2021-22 was not able to achieve the desired objectives of fetching greater revenues and the fact that it's implementation is under scanner for alleged violation of rules and procedural lapses, officials said.

What will happen to the newly-opened 468 shops?

The government stores of liquor will open for a period of six months from September 1 and till then the private vends will continue to operate, they said.

"This was needed as the government has already decided to revert to old excise policy regime and run stores through its agencies, a process that could create shortage and chaos as the new shops will take days to open," said a government source.

BCCL

Under the Excise Policy, government had issued retail licences for 849 vends across the city divided into 32 zones. Currently only 468 were running whose licences expired on July 31 as the policy has been withdrawn by the government.

There was no clarity over extension of other excise licenses including those for hotels, clubs and restaurants serving liquor and wholesale liquor operations that too seized to exist after withdrawing of the Excuse Policy 2021-22.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.