NEWS
PRIVATISATION: INDIA’S DELHI GOVERNMENT EXITED LIQUOR RETAIL TODAY
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
17-11-2021
Credit: Mohd Aram/Unsplash
India capital city Delhi’s government has officially exited liquor business today as nearly 600 government-run vends were shut from last night, making way for new swanky private shops to start operations from today under the new excise policy.
Local media expressed worries that there may be a shortage of liquor in the city due to the closure of government-run vends as the 850 new private vends are unlikely to start operation in one go from today.
They said licences have been distributed to all applicants in 32 zones but only about 300-350 shops are likely to start trading on the first day of the new excise regime.
However, local media quoted officials said that all the 850 vends will gradually start functioning and there will be no shortage of liquor after that.
This is the first time that all government-run liquor shops are shut in the Indian capital, and the business will be completely transferred to private players.
Under the new excise policy of the Delhi government, all the 850 liquor vends, including the 260-odd outlets run privately, have been given to private firms through open tender.
The private liquor vends had shut operations on 30 September, and the government ones which were operating in the transition period of one-and-a-half months stopped trading on Tuesday night.
The new licence holders are supposed to start retail sale of liquor in the city from today.
Swanky liquor vends will be set up in 32 zones across the city where people would be able to walk in and choose the brands of their choice.
The new rules stipulate that the new liquor stores will have to be equipped with air-conditioning and CCTV cameras. It also bars selling liquor through grilled shops with people crowding outside on roads and pavements.
The new excise policy also allows for the opening of five super-premium retail vends having an area of 2,500 square feet. Liquor tasting facility will also be developed at these super-premium retail vends.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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