New Delhi residents may soon be able to secure their preferred liquor brands before stepping out, as the Delhi government prepares to introduce a mobile application under its upcoming excise policy. The proposed app is aimed at improving consumer convenience, increasing transparency and helping the government better track demand patterns across the city.
According to officials familiar with the process, a committee headed by Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma has drafted key elements of the new excise framework. The draft policy is expected to be placed in the public domain by January to invite feedback from citizens and stakeholders. Final notification will follow approvals from the Cabinet and the Lieutenant Governor.
At the centre of the proposal is a government-run application that will allow users to view nearby liquor stores, check real-time stock availability and pre-book specific brands. Once a booking is made, the retailer will hold the bottle for a limited period, currently proposed at one hour, after which it may be released for general sale. Whether customers will be required to pay in advance is still under consideration.
Delhi currently has over 700 liquor outlets operated by four government corporations, including DSIIDC and DTTDC. Under the new policy, all these stores will be digitally mapped and mandated to update their inventories regularly. Officials say the data generated through customer searches will help identify high-demand brands and gaps in supply, allowing the system to respond more efficiently.
The policy also seeks to address long-standing concerns around the clustering of liquor vends. There are no plans to increase the total number of outlets. Instead, the government intends to gradually move shops away from residential neighbourhoods and areas close to schools, while enforcing a minimum distance of 350 metres between vends.
Additional features under consideration include a grievance redressal mechanism for consumers and measures to curb brand pushing at retail counters.
The move comes as the government continues to operate under an extended version of the old excise policy, which has been in place since September 2022. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has earlier stated that the new excise policy will be designed to be transparent, revenue-focused and aligned with best practices followed in other states.
