Delhi govt Allows Home Delivery Of Liquor via website and app

 The Delhi government has allowed domestic delivery of liquor through mobile apps or websites under the revised excise rules governing the liquor trade in the national capital.

The government announcement read, "The licensee will only deliver liquor to residences if the order is received through a mobile app or web online web portal." Delivery will not be made to any hostel, office or institution.

However, the order clarifies that only L-13 license holders will be allowed to deliver home not every quantity of liquor in the city.

The rules also allow required license holders to drink alcohol in open spaces such as terraces, clubs, bars and restaurants.

The 2010 excise policy also provided for home delivery of liquor, but requests could only be made by fax or email. However, the exercise never took off.

The national capital, which started the process of 'unlocking', went into lockdown on April 19 and is seeing a significant drop in COVID-19 cases. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has made it clear that there will be a gradual process of 'unlocking' Delhi. The lockout period was extended to June 7.

Prior to the announcement of the first lockdown, large queues were seen at many liquor stores in the city as people rushed to stock up on quantities of liquor.

Announcing the new liquor policy in March, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the legal drinking age in Delhi has been reduced from 25 to 21 with a view to reducing annual excise revenue.

Mr Sisodia also said that the Delhi government would not run liquor stores, adding that no new liquor shops would be opened in the nation's capital.

When the third phase of the nationwide lockdown began last year, the Delhi government allowed the sale of liquor but imposed a "special corona fee" on it. However, the government withdrew the fee within a month after the sale was affected.

Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Jharkhand, Odisha are among the states where home delivery of liquor is allowed.

Last year, the Supreme Court advised states to consider home delivery of liquor to maintain social distance as scenes of crowds of people appearing outside liquor stores in violation of the Covid Protocol are visible.