Delhiites thronged liquor shops over the weekend as the national capital faces a major shortage in the coming days and private liquor and beer shops are set to shut shop from August 1. The old policy of selling liquor, which is set to return from Monday, will remain in place. in place for six months.
As many as 468 private liquor shops operating in the city will shut down from August 1 as their licenses under the Excise Policy 2021-22 expire on July 31.
PTI reported that Star City Mall in Mayur Vihar Extension was thronged with liquor buyers till late evening and shops were running out fast.
“Don’t go in. There’s no alcohol,” said a man returning empty-handed from the mall, which has several liquor stores.
“There has been a mad rush since noon. We are turning away customers asking for specific brands as most are sold out. Many people, however, are buying whatever is available,” said a shopkeeper at the mall. said the employee.
After the government rolled back the new excise policy, liquor lovers in the city were given discounts and special offers like OnePlus One and OnePlus Two Free through private shops for the last time in the city.
“The store is about to close and we are selling the stock. We have started a buy one get 2 free offer on all types of liquor and beer to clear the stock,” said an employee at a liquor store in Lakshmi Nagar. said
What changes from yesterday?
• The Excise Policy 2021-22 extended twice every two months after April, will expire on July 31 as the Delhi government decided to revert to the old excise system and allow liquor shops to operate for the next six months. What is the decision?
• The move comes amid ongoing investigations by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) and a face-off between Lt Governor VK Saxena and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government.
• As per the old liquor policy in Delhi, all liquor shops in the city were closed for 21 days while the new policy observed only three dry days.
• Under the old liquor policy, more than 864 liquor shops were available in Delhi of which 389 were run by private players and 475 by government agencies.
• There were no offers including discounts available on liquor or One Plus One offers.
• Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, after withdrawing the new excise policy on Saturday, said that at present there is one liquor shop for 22,707 people in Delhi.
• This will be the second time in any given year that there is a liquor shortage in the city. For three weeks before the new excise on privately-run liquor vends came into effect from November 17, 2021, there was a liquor shortage in Delhi as government-run stores and individual licensees quit retail business.
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