Residents of Delhi may soon be heading to nearby cities like Noida or Gurugram in Uttar Pradesh to buy alcohol, as Delhi’s liquor stocks are running low and Uttar Pradesh’s new liquor policy offers more options. The policy change in Uttar Pradesh has introduced new choices for alcohol buyers, especially with an e-lottery system for liquor and cannabis shops.
Earlier this year, small and medium-sized alcohol companies in Delhi had expressed concerns about a new sales-based point system that they believed would benefit larger stores and create market inequality. They argued that this system, which only considered brands registered with the Delhi excise department, would make it difficult for smaller and local brands to survive. However, the policy was delayed before the Delhi assembly elections.
Now, with Uttar Pradesh’s new Excise Policy for FY25-26 in place, Delhi residents may consider buying alcohol in the NCR region, especially with easier access to Noida, Gurugram, and even Ghaziabad for those in East and North Delhi.
In Delhi, the alcohol market is controlled by four government-run agencies, and licensing issues, including frequent downtime of the excise department’s portal, have made it difficult for buyers and outlets to place orders or update stocks.
