New liquor policy may permit private vends, late-night bars, but no discounts

THE POLICY IS BEING AIMED FOR INTRODUCTION WHEN THE CURRENT RULES EXPIRE ON MAR 31

- Alok K N Mishra

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is planning on a new liquor policy that could reduce the legal age floor for alcohol consumption from 25 to 21, allow private- as well as government-run vends, and extend the deadline for serving alcoholic drinks from lam to 3am in the national capital, according to people aware of the plans.

The policy is being aimed for introduction when the current set of rules and regulations expires on March 31, and comes months after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's attempts to reform and modernise Delhi's liquor market through the now-scrapped excise policy of 2021-22 ended in scandal and controversy, with ongoing investigations by two federal agencies.

"The government officials who have been assigned to formulate the excise policy are likely to propose a progressive draft policy which will be designed to check the flight of business from Delhi to neighbouring cities, improve users experience and generate higher revenue. Unlike all metro cities of the country, Delhi has a peculiar geographic location which throws up the challenge of the flight of business to neighbouring cities which does not happen in Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, etc," said a government official, asking not to be named.

The policy is still at the drafting stage, this person added.

The proposed changes also include slashing the number of dry days (when liquor is not sold), but it is likely to restrict deep discounts such as the buyone, get-one deals many private liquor vends offered under the now-scrapped excise policy, which unravelled when a report drawn up by the chief secretary found alleged irregularities, following which the lieutenant governor ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.