New Delhi: Delhiites are unlikely to see private liquor shops anytime soon as govt is going to extend licences of state-run retail liquor vends till March 2027. The order has been issued weeks after Delhi govt extended the excise policy 2020-21.The policy governs liquor sale and purchase across all licence types in the city. The licences will be renewed for all eligible vendors for the period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, on the payment of licence and additional fees on or before March 31, 2026. Licensees must comply with the provisions of Delhi Excise Act, 2009, and Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, and the instructions issued by the excise department from time to time, stated a circular issued on March 17.The city has over 700 liquor outlets — L-6 (Indian liquor and beer), L-6FG and L-6FE (foreign liquor retail), L-8 (country liquor) and L-10, including 24×7 airport stores.The retail liquor sale in Delhi is run by four govt corporations — Delhi State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation, Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation, Delhi Consumer’s Cooperative Wholesale Store and Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation. Officials in these four corporations said they were going to apply for the one-year extension.This govt-run liquor sale arrangement has been in place since Sept 2022, under which many of the stores are smaller in comparison to the earlier private-run outlets. Industry stakeholders have complained about a poor retail experience, limited product variety and cramped stores. Premium Indian and imported brands are also reported to be frequently out of stock. They point out that neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan operate under more stable, long-term excise policies.The new framework, originally expected in 2022, has faced repeated delays and there’s no clarity on its timeline. “The current arrangement was supposed to be an interim measure, but it has been repeatedly extended, creating uncertainty in the market,” said Vinod Giri, director-general of Brewers Association of India. “With no clarity on long-term policy direction, decisions and fresh investments are being held back. As a result, a significant share of Delhi’s demand is getting diverted to other NCR states, which offer more brand options and a quality buying experience,” Giri said, demanding that govt come out with a stable excise policy to ensure quality products in Delhi, restore industry’s confidence, retain business in the city and also protect its own revenues.
