New Delhi: With around 40% of private liquor vends to shut from Friday in Delhi due to the new excise policy aimed at providing equitable distribution of retail liquor business across the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Thursday assured that steps are being taken to ensure the people do not face problems.
The Delhi government said the national capital is going to witness a transition phase in liquor management.
“However, the Delhi government is putting its best foot forward to ensure that the residents do not face much of a problem,” the Delhi government said in a statement, PTI reported.
The Delhi government said the state-run vends have been instructed to keep sufficient stocks to fulfil the demand during this period.
“Government owned liquor shops have been instructed to make sure they have sufficient stocks to fulfil the demand during this period. The liquor shops have been directed to release payments on time to suppliers so that the supply chains don’t get choked,” the statement said.
“We expect that in a situation where sufficient supply is maintained, crowding or any other incidents will not take place. We want to reassure the public that they do not need to hoard or rush to stores in this situation as all government-owned shops will continue to function,” the statement added.
The statement comes as Delhi stares at a possible shortage of alcohol and crowding outside vends owing to closure of 260 privately-run liquor shops.
The Delhi government has under its new excise policy allocated fresh licences to private firms for 850 shops, which will enter the retail business from November 17.
In view of the same, all the private liquor vends in Delhi were directed to shut shop by September 30. Only government-run shops will open during this period.
The remaining liquor stores run by the Delhi government agencies will also wrap up their business on November 16.
The consumers in many parts of the city complained of shortage as the privately-run shops sold out their stocks and made no fresh orders weeks in advance due to the deadline.
Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Laxmi Nagar, said “my neighbourhood shop had sold out its stock and started returning customers after which I had to look to other shops in the area”.
“If there is further crisis, I will have to bring my liquor brand from Noida or Ghaziabad,” he added.
Delhi Liquor Traders Association chief Naresh Goel said the private liquor vends in many areas had already closed after selling out stocks earlier this week.
He added “the shortage was visible today as private liquor vends shut shops leading to crowds and long queues outside government owned vends”.
Goel said the 260 private vends, closing down from September 30, used to gross around Rs 20 crore in daily sales.
Asserting “closure of these shops will create shortage besides revenue loss to the government”, he added: “Also thousands employed there will be rendered jobless.”
The new excise policy, which will replace the existing liquor vends in Delhi with swanky liquor stores spread over at least 500 square feet area with walk in facility, aims at revolutionising the consumer experience.
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The new liquor stores will have to be equipped with air-conditioning and CCTV cameras, as per the new policy, which also provides for various facilities like wine tasting and variety of brands for the consumers.
The new excise policy also bars selling liquor through grilled shops with the people crowding outside on roads and pavements.