Delhi might soon see premium liquor brands available in every shop across the city, as the government prepares to introduce a new excise policy. The draft of this policy is expected to be ready within a month.
According to government sources, a high-level committee led by PWD Minister Parvesh Verma has almost finalised the blueprint after several rounds of consultations with industry stakeholders.
Currently, premium liquor brands are sold only in select outlets, causing inconvenience to customers and leading to revenue losses. The new proposal aims to make these brands available in all stores — similar to neighbouring NCR cities like Gurugram and Noida — ensuring uniform pricing and availability.
“The idea is to bring Delhi at par with the NCR in terms of premium liquor access and pricing,” a source said. This move is also expected to help the government curb revenue leakage and prevent buyers from travelling to nearby states for better options.
The committee also discussed a proposal to lower the legal drinking age for beer, but officials said no agreement was reached on that issue.
For now, the Delhi government has extended the existing excise policy until March 31, 2026, allowing time for the new policy to be implemented smoothly.
In recent years, Delhi’s liquor trade has undergone several policy changes that affected pricing, supply, and retail structure. The upcoming policy aims to fix these gaps, improve revenue collection, and make premium brands more accessible to consumers while addressing industry concerns.
