In Delhi, liquor shortage likely from Monday as new excise policy rolled back

Only government-run liquor shops will operate from Monday, August 1, till the time a new excise policy is put in place, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday said amid a row over the new excise duty with the Centre.

“We have withdrawn new excise policy and directed opening government liquor stores. I have directed the chief secretary to ensure no chaos during the transition period,” Sisodia at a press conference.

The decision also means 468 private liquor shops will shut from Monday, creating a major crisis in the availability of liquor in the national capital.

"The Centre is using ED and CBI to warn their private players so that the new excise policy fails. They want to reduce liquor in Delhi and create a shortage,” Sisodia alleged while defending the new policy on liquor.

Sisodia also alleged that like Gujarat, the BJP wants to promote the sale of spurious, off-duty liquor by threatening Delhi's shop-owners and officers.

“The Delhi government had to come out with a new excise policy. Before this policy, government shops used to sell liquor. Private shops also existed but they were given to relatives,” Sisodia added.