New Delhi: Liquor sales in Delhi have gone into completely private hands since Wednesday. Under the new excise policy, 849 licences were allotted to the capital by dividing it into 32 zones. Under which 26-27 shops in each zone are scheduled to operate from Wednesday. For which 272 wards of Delhi have been divided into zones for easy availability of liquor in each area. One zone consists of eight to 9 wards and every ward is mandatorily going to open three to 4 shops. The excise department has said that all the shops are set to be opened. All preparations have been made by the licensed firms. On the other hand, with the introduction of the new policy, liquor is estimated to be 8 to 9 per cent costlier.
Alcohol will be expensive because of this: Where it has been found that the value-added tax (VAT) is going to be added to the liquor licence fee. At the same time, excise duty and VAT is also going to be levied on wholesale price. It is also being said that liquor will now become costlier by 8 to 9 per cent in Delhi. An order has also been issued by the excise department in early November citing the price of liquor in neighbouring states of UP, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. The order stated that the price of liquor in the neighbouring States is much higher than in Delhi. The price of beer is also very high in some States. Therefore, the prices are set to be increased in terms of revenue.
Change in new excise policy:-
- The legal age limit for drinking alcohol in Delhi has been reduced from 25 years to 21 years.
- 24-hour liquor is going to be sold at independent shops and hotels operating at international airports.
- The liquor shop will be opened in at least 500 square feet. There will be no counter of the shop on the roadside. - Till now most of the government shops were in 150 square feet, which had counters on the roadside.
- Licensees will be able to make home delivery of liquor by taking orders through a mobile app or website.
- No hostel, office or institution will be allowed to deliver liquor.
- So far, 60 per cent of the shops were in government and 40 per cent in private hands, from today 100 per cent will be in private hands.
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