The once-popular liquor shop at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3) is seeing a steep decline in business, with sales falling sharply and customers leaving disappointed due to empty shelves and staff shortages.
Run by the Delhi Consumer Co-operative Wholesale Store Limited (DCCWS), the store has been struggling for the past few months. Liquor sales have dropped from ₹3.04 lakh in January 2025 to just ₹2.20 lakh in May. While there was a short spike in March, reaching ₹3.52 lakh, it wasn’t enough to turn things around.
The main issues? Frequent stock shortages — especially of top global liquor brands — and not enough staff to keep the shop running smoothly. An internal email from the airport management to DCCWS even expressed frustration over the poor operations.
Staffing problems became worse when the store couldn’t renew Airport Entry Passes (AEPs) in time, leaving it short-staffed and forcing it to shut down for several days earlier this month. A notice posted outside the shop blamed the closure on the lack of valid entry passes for employees.
An Excise Department official confirmed that while the AEP issue has now been resolved, the shop still has a long road to recovery. “There’s still a long way to go before we’re back to normal,” the official said.
This particular liquor store is known for its 24/7 service and convenient location, accessible to both domestic and international passengers. With its competitive pricing and premium liquor selection, it was once a highlight for travelers.
The shop had already faced setbacks in the past — it was shut down during a CBI investigation after Delhi’s 2021–22 liquor policy was scrapped. Although it reopened last year and seemed ready for a comeback, operational mismanagement is now putting its future in doubt again.
With summer travel season in full swing and passenger traffic returning to normal, airport authorities are urging DCCWS to fix the problems quickly. “This shop could be a key attraction once again — but only if supply and staffing issues are resolved fast,” said an airport official.
