Delhi: New license holders will start retailing alcohol in the city from Wednesday. (File)
New Delhi:
The Delhi government on Tuesday offered to boost the retail alcohol business as a new excise regime is set to take place in the city market from Wednesday, with posh aisles and boutiques. some have tasting facility to enhance user experience.
Tuesday is the last working day for the nearly 600 government-run liquor stores operating across the nation’s capital.
Under the new excise tax policy, alcohol sales will now be handled entirely by private companies.
Under the new regime, the city will have 850 luxury liquor stores, where people will be able to walk in and choose the brand of their choice as they would in shopping malls.
New license holders will start retailing alcohol in the city from Wednesday.
With the new regime in place, L-17 licensees, including independent restaurants or eateries, can serve any Indian or foreign liquor in any area such as public, terrace, and lower areas of the restaurant provided that the wine service area is hidden from public view.
They can also play live music and have professional performances, bands, DJs, karaoke, singing and dancing on-site.
However, sources said there could be chaos and a shortage of alcohol on the first day of the new alcohol regime as nearly 250-300 stores are likely to be open by Wednesday.
They also said that in many areas, stores are still being prepared for operation.
Taxation Department officials said the new liquor stores would remain open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Under the new excise tax policy, announced in July this year, high-end liquor stores will be set up in 32 areas across the city. A retail licensee will have 27 liquor stores per area.
The new policy aims to revolutionize the consumer experience by replacing existing liquor stores in city nooks and crannies with stylish and chic liquor stores spread over the least amount of space. 500 square feet with doorless facility.
These stores will be spacious, well-lit and air-conditioned.
The policy also allows for the opening of five super-premium retail stores measuring 2,500 square feet. Tasting facilities will also be developed at these ultra-premium retail outlets.
It stipulates that new liquor stores will have to be equipped with air conditioning and CCTV. The policy also applies to bars that sell alcohol through grills with large crowds of people congregating on the streets and sidewalks.
Delhi Liquor Trade Association President Naresh Goyal said that there is a possibility of chaos in the beginning as all shops will not be able to start operations from Wednesday.
In many places, he said, stores are still being prepared under the new guidelines so it could take some time.
“No more than 250-300 stores will be able to operate on the first day. There may be a shortage of some in the early days due to the smaller number of stores, however, it will end as more stores become available. new auto,” said Mr. Goyal.
Excise Department officials said permits have been issued to all applicants in 32 regions, but between 300-350 stores will likely start operating on the first day of the consumption regime. new specials.
They say that provisional licenses have been granted to about 350 stores and that registrations of more than 200 trademarks have been made with 10 wholesale licensees. To date, wholesale licensees have purchased ninety thousand liters of alcohol of different brands.
The price of alcohol in the city may increase as private shops open from Wednesday under the new excise policy of the Delhi government.
The Department of Taxation, which is in the process of fixing the maximum retail price (MRP) of brands registered in Delhi, said the wholesale price of all liquors is likely to increase by 8-9%.
Impact on wholesale prices due to a combination of factors such as central sales tax at 2%, margins for wholesalers, import clearance fees and shipping and handling charges, as approved in the Special Consumption Tax Policy 2021-22, will cause 10% to 25 the Government said in an order last month, a percentage increase on certain brands of whiskey (foreign alcohol produced by India) , with per-unit rates ranging from 8% (Royal Stag Premier) to 25.9% (Blenders Pride Rare), the government said in an order last month.
During the old regime, Delhi had 260 privately owned liquor stores and nearly 600 government-run liquor stores.
Private liquor stores closed for business on September 30, and government stores that were operating in a month-and-a-half month-long transition closed their business on Tuesday night.
The government has kept the total reserve price for all 32 sites at around Rs 7,041 crore but it earned around Rs 8,917.59 through the tender.
The Delhi government has issued guidance on ordering and getting stocked liquor for luxury boutiques coming under the new regime.
Officials said that stores selling alcohol under the new excise policy began ordering alcohol from Nov.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
.
