The previous excise system, which was implemented after the Delhi government abandoned its ambitious new liquor policy, has generated revenue of Rs 7,285 crore for the Excise Department through the sale of over 61 crore liquor bottles in the past year.
Officials have shared data indicating that from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023, the Excise Department accumulated a total revenue of Rs 7,285.15 crore. Among this sum, Rs 2,013.44 crore was collected as Value Added Tax (VAT).
Under the current excise policy, the department averaged approximately Rs 535.2 crore per month, resulting in a total of Rs 5,887.2 crore between October 2021 and August 31, 2022.
Over the past year, the daily revenue collected by the excise department amounted to Rs 21.12 crore, with a total sale of 61 crore liquor bottles—an average of nearly 17 lakh bottles per day.
The present excise regime, which has been in effect since September 1 last year, was instituted after the cancellation of the Aam Aadmi Party’s ambitious liquor policy for 2021-22. This decision followed investigations into alleged corruption and irregularities in the policy’s formulation by multiple agencies, including the CBI and ED.
Former Excise Minister Manish Sisodia was also arrested by both the CBI and ED in connection with the case.
Under the new policy, the government withdrew from the liquor business, allowing private entities more influence in retail liquor sales. These private parties introduced offers and discounts like “buy one get one free.”
After the abandonment of the new policy, only government-run shops were permitted to operate in Delhi, managed by four corporations: DCCWS, DTIDC, DSIIDC, and DSCSC. Presently, the city has 628 active liquor vends.
