The Delhi Government on Tuesday (June 1, 2021), approved home delivery of Indian and foreign liquors for orders placed through mobile apps or web portals.
As per the Delhi Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2021, only such sellers who hold the L-13 license are permitted to facilitate home delivery of liquor.
The licensee (Form L-13) shall make delivery of liquor at residences only if the order is received through a mobile app or online web portal and no delivery shall be made to any hostel, the office, and institution, read the notification of the Delhi Government.
The previous Rules permitted L-13 license holders to make home deliveries for orders received through e-mail or by fax (not telephone), the amended Rules now allow deliveries for orders made through mobile apps or online web portals. The Rules also permit holders of necessary licenses to serve liquor in open spaces such as terraces, the courtyards of clubs, bars, and restaurants.
This decision came a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the gradual unlocking of the national capital. Delhi has been under lockdown since April 19, and as per the notification issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the national capital will continue to remain under strict lockdown till 5 AM on June 7 except for construction and manufacturing units which would be allowed to resume work.
The first lockdown in March 2020 saw massive overcrowding outside Delhi liquor shops. Even the 2021 lockdown in Delhi witnessed long queues in front of wine and liquor shops. Fearing the spread of Covid-19 because of such overcrowding, the Supreme Court in May 2020, had suggested that states consider home delivery of liquor.
Over a month ago, a liquor manufacturer, while expressing his plight of overcrowded liquor shops, had requested the Aam Aadmi Party-led government to allow home delivery of alcohol.
Several states such as Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab have decided to keep the supply of alcohol up and running throughout the lockdown period and permitted online home delivery of liquor. Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Kolkata have also permitted home delivery of alcohol.
