With the withdrawal of the Delhi government’s Excise Policy 2021-22, all privately-owned liquor outlets will have to shut shop.
Imported alcohol at half price, bottles flying off the shelves and long queues — these were the scenes outside liquor stores in Delhi following Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s announcement Saturday that the AAP government’s Excise Policy 2021-22 will be scrapped.
Sisodia, who is in charge of the excise department, said that only government-owned liquor outlets will be allowed to sell alcohol in the national capital starting 1 August. This would mean the end of the road for about 468 private liquor vendors operational in Delhi.
The announcement came on the heels of an ongoing investigation by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) into the new excise policy which has also led to a face-off between Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.
With all privately-owned wine and beer outlets shutting shop owing to the withdrawal of Delhi government’s Excise Policy 2021-22, the capital is likely staring at a major liquor shortage in the coming days.
The AAP government is now reportedly considering a one-month extension for the new excise policy.
