Delhi govt allows home delivery of liquor

The Delhi government has allowed home delivery of liquor under the amended excise rules.

The Delhi Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2021, notified on Monday, allow licence holders to deliver liquor booked through an app or a website at the doorstep of the buyers.

According to the Delhi Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2021, published in a gazette notification on Monday, May 31, 2021, only holders of L-13 license will be allowed to deliver liquor at the doorstep of people. L-13 is a licence granted to a retail vendor of Indian and foreign liquor for home delivery.

Under the previous rules, home delivery of liquor in Delhi was allowed, but only L-13 license holders were allowed to carry out such deliveries “at the residences only if order is received through e-mail or by fax (not telephone)”.

The rules also permit the holders of the necessary licences to serve liquor in open spaces such as terraces, the courtyards of clubs, bars and restaurants.

Last year, the Supreme Court had observed that the states should consider home delivery of liquor after visuals of crowding outside alcohol shops emerged following restrictions on the timings due to Covid-19 lockdown.