Delhi government’s U-turn on new liquor policy, know what provisions were made, why the decision had to be taken

Excise Policy of Delhi Government: The old excise policy is going to be operational again in Delhi from August 1. The new excise policy was implemented last year. The Governor of Delhi had recommended a CBI inquiry regarding the new excise policy. After the CBI investigation, a decision has been taken to reinstate the old excise policy. In fact, according to information received from the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena had recommended a CBI inquiry in the matter in response to a report by the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary of Delhi submitted this report to the LG on July 8, which states that the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Trade Rules (TOBR) 1993, Delhi willfully to give post tender wrong benefits to the liquor licensees under the new excise policy. Excise Act 2009 and Delhi Excise Rules 2010 were violated. The report also said that the financial quid is mainly indicated by top-level political pro quo. It has been said in the report that it was finalized by the Minister of Excise Department, Manish Sisodia. It has also been said in the report that even after the tenders were awarded, undue financial assistance was given to the liquor licensees, causing huge loss to the exchequer. This report of the Chief Secretary has been sent to both the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister.

This was the Delhi government’s new excise policy

Under the New Excise Policy of the Delhi Government, Delhi was divided into 32 zones, for which 849 licenses were allotted. In this way, on an average 26 to 27 liquor shops were opening in each zone. 8 to 9 wards were included in a zone. In this way, liquor was easily available in every area. Till now 60 percent of the shops were in government and 40 percent in private hands but after this policy 100 percent of the shops had gone into private hands.

According to the new excise policy, the rules related to the consumption and sale of liquor in Delhi were now as follows-

• The legal age limit for drinking alcohol in Delhi was reduced from 25 years to 21 years.
• Liquor was being sold 24 hours a day at the independent shop and hotel operating at the international airport.
• Liquor shop was opening in at least 500 square feet. Earlier most of the government shops were in 150 square feet, whose counter was on the road side.
• There was no counter of the shop on the road side.
• The licensees were making home delivery of liquor by taking orders through the mobile app or website.
• Delivery of liquor was not allowed in any hostel, office or institution.
• Arrangements were made in the shops; the entry and exit gates were separate. There were no food and drink shops outside the shops. Full security arrangements were made.
• All the shops were fixing the price of liquor according to the market rate.

This was the reason why many shops started offering big offers like one on one free.

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BJP made these allegations on Kejriwal government

Questioning this new policy, BJP had said that it will increase liquor shops in Delhi. In this policy, from fixing the money to deciding the brand, the rights of the contractors will be with the contractors. BJP had said that if contracts are opened in places, it will increase the trouble in the houses. The BJP had accused the Kejriwal government of trying to drown Delhi under the influence of alcohol in the name of revenue. Let us inform that earlier there were 250 private liquor shops in Delhi which increased to 850 after the new excise policy.

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