The Delhi government is planning a new liquor policy that could reduce the legal age for alcohol consumption from 25 to 21 in the national capital.
The new policy might also allow both private and government-run vends, and extend the deadline for serving alcohol from 1 am to 3 am in Delhi, reported the Hindustan Times.
A special committee was recently formed by the Delhi government to look into the new excise policy, and it is yet to submit its preliminary report, reported News18.
Demands by liquor traders: The liquor traders in Delhi had urged the government to allow private players in the retail business for a better customer experience and to compete with neighbouring cities like Gurugram and Noida.
- The Delhi Liquor Traders Association (DLTA) had also recommended that the new excise policy should bring down the legal drinking age from 25 at present to 21 years.
- The liquor traders’ body had also recommended keeping the number of ‘dry days’ in the city to a minimum.
Liquor policy 2021-22 scrapped after controversy: After a lot of controversy, the Delhi government discontinued the new excise policy and had brought back the old liquor policy.
- The Excise Policy 2021-22 was withdrawn by the Delhi government as a CBI probe was recommended by the Lt Governor into alleged violation of rules and procedural lapses in its implementation.
Old liquor policy: The four corporations – DSIIDC, DTTDC DCCWS, and DSCSC – were running the majority of liquor stores in the city before the new excise came into effect.
- The government corporations ran 475 liquor stores out of a total 864 in Delhi under the old excise policy regime. There were 389 private stores.
- The above news was originally posted on news.google.com
