Unlock 3: Delhi Restaurants, Hotels Allowed To Serve Liquor, Bars To Remain Shut

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has directed the excise department to issue 'necessary permissions' for serving liquor in restaurants and hotels.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Thursday allowed restaurants and hotels in the national capital to serve liquor to its customers at the tables and hotels rooms. The ordered, however, stated that bars in the capital city will continue to remain shut under the Unlock 3.0 guidelines issued by the Central government. While both Centre and the Delhi government had allowed reopening of hotels and restaurants from June 8, but serving liquor was prohibited. As per report, the decision was taken keeping in mind the revenue implications. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has directed the excise department to issue 'necessary permissions' for serving liquor in restaurants and hotels. Here's the letter to Excise Department by Delhi government: “Bars will remain closed under the provisions of unlock guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, several state governments, including Assam, Punjab, Rajasthan, etc, have permitted service of liquor by licence holders under the Excise Rule in the restaurants and clubs and in the hotel rooms. Considering the revenue implications, the excise department issued necessary permission for service of liquor in the restaurants and clubs by licensees at the table and in the hotel rooms,” the order signed by Sisodia read. The development came a day after the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) gave approval for opening of hotels and weekly markets in the city. The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal via a video link. Even the Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel had thanked Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal for deciding to reopen hotels in the city, saying it was a big step towards revival of tourism and hospitality activities in the national capital. Union ministry, in a statement, said Prahlad Singh Patel held a discussion with the L-G to request him to accede to the demands of the hospitality industry in Delhi for permission to start hotel and restaurant operations. The Ministry of Home Affairs has given permission to start hotel, restaurant and hospitality services in the tourism sector from June 8 in a phased manner. The Health Ministry had issued SoPs and protocols for operation hotels, restaurants and other accommodation units. The tourism ministry had subsequently come up with operational guidelines for hotels, restaurants and other accommodation units which were circulated countrywide. Towards another major move in rebooting tourism activities, Patel has also requested the home ministry to consider allowing the banquets halls and conference facilities to operate at 50 per cent of their capacity by following the existing safety protocols and social distancing norms, a move that will help kickstart the MICE industry. Meanwhile, Delhi Hotels and Restaurant Owner's Association (DHROA) president Loveleen Anand and chairman Sandeep Khandelwal wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanking him for reopening hotels in the city.