“The association has submitted a representation to the Delhi government and the LG through the excise commissioner seeking their intervention to allow the private players to operate because under the old policy the private retail vendors were contributing around 60% of total revenue collection,” said Goyal. Naresh Goyal, president of Delhi Liquor Trade Association, a union of private liquor traders who operated 260 liquor stores till the new excise policy was implemented and they were forced to shut shops, said liquor shopping experience can be made better only when the market forces (private players) are involved in the process, and the business is driven by competition. While the world around them grew, the liquor stores failed to modernise themselves because the governments did not bother as long as the shops continued to do business,” the former commissioner said, asking not to be named.Īlso read: Extension of excise policy approved, Delhi liquor stores, bars to reopen At the time they had opened, and the localities they were situated in were not as much crowded as they are today. “Area of some of the liquor stores run by the government was even smaller than 150 square feet. In such stores, we would like to provide the walk-in experience to the buyers,” the official said asking not to be named.Ī Delhi government spokesperson did not comment on the matter.Ī former excise commissioner of Delhi said many government-run liquor stores were small and dingy because they were opened decades ago, “some were started even in 1970s”. “In upscale areas such as Khan Market, Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, etc., we are going for larger stores.
In places where we get larger space, we will also go for larger space,” said an official, who is a member of an excise committee formed by the Delhi government to ensure smooth transition from the existing policy to the old regime.
“We are trying to ensure that each liquor store has 300-500 square feet space, but the minimum space for each store would be around 300 sqft. However, with the switchover to the old regime coming into force, till the government frames a new excise policy, there were apprehensions that the shoppers may have to see the old,dingy, grilled shops that existed before the implementation of the 2021-22 policy. The policy said that the shops have to be spacious, well lit and air-conditioned to allow customers a walk-in experience and must be under camera surveillance. The policy envisaged that liquor shops in the city has to be to be at least 500 square feet in size, and allow the buyers to browse and purchase the brands of their choice. With the implementation of the 2021-22 policy, the government exited the liquor business in the Capital. HT has seen the document.Īlso read: Delhi govt to open 500 liquor stores in city by August 31 This will include 20 premium vends.Īccording to an excise department document, explaining the eligibility requirements for opening liquor vends by government agencies, the stores should be located in a ‘pucca’ building with a minimum floor area of 300 square feet, and it should be located in local shopping centre or commercial premises. Under the old excise regime, four Delhi government agencies will open at least 500 stores across the city by August 31, and the number of stores will go up to 700 by December 31. The Delhi government is switching to the old excise regime from September 1, after the lieutenant governor, VK Saxena, recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in to the alleged lapses in the implementation of the provisions of the 2021-22 policy. New Delhi: The government is returning to the business of sale and distribution of liquor in the national Capital, but only with proper, spacious and well-lit establishments and not the notorious grilled ’thekas’, officials aware of the matter said.
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