Huge rush was witnessed at many shops in the national capital as liquor retailers offered discounts of up to 35 per cent to increase the sale of bottles.
NEW DELHI, 28 FEBRUARY: The Delhi government on Monday decided to discontinue the exemption on the maximum retail price (MRP) of liquor at shops. The decision comes at a time when several shops in the national capital witnessed heavy rush as liquor retailers started offering huge discounts to boost sales.
An order from the Excise Department reads “As relaxation given by the licensee through its retailers, a large gatherings have been reported outside the liquor shops, causing law and order problems and inconvenience to locals of an area,”.
“The threat of COVID-19 still persists and hence there is a possibility of a huge spike in cases,” it added.
The Delhi government further said that such relaxations are causing “unhealthy market practices deployed solely for short-term commercial gains” by some licensees in the capital.
The Excise Department said “Licensees are seen promoting on social media and banners/hoardings are put up outside the shops which is a non-permissible provision under the Delhi Excise Act, 2009 and the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010.” activity.”
Liquor shops in several parts of the city were seen offering discounts of up to 35 per cent on certain IMFL brands.
With the introduction of the new excise policy in November last year, liquor shops in Delhi were under pressure to liquidate their stock by the end of March before the renewal of their licenses.