Make available beer and wine at departmental stores: Delhi Panel
Booze lovers in Delhi might soon get a good news.Delhi government is exploring the possible and practical ways to enhance the excise revenue of the state. A committee has been set up by Dy.CM under the chairmanship of the excise commissioner to find the solution.including measures to simplify the liquor price mechanism and checking malpractices and evasion of duty in the liquor trade.
Committee has recommended the following (3 core).
1.Legal drinking age should be lowered from 25 to 21: It should exactly be at par with neighbouring states in NCR where legal drinking age is 21. Delhi pubs are losing customers, currently customers below 25 years of age prefer to go to Noida or Gurugram for the booze and parties.Also in country where person can vote at the age of 18, girls can even marry at the age of 18, why drinking age limits are higher.Surprisingly drinking age limits differ from state to state.It has to be “One nation one drinking age”.
2.Make available beer and wine at Departmental stores: Issue retail licences to departmental stores for selling beer, wine and other “soft” liquor categories and ease of doing business for hotel, pubs and restaurants etc.
3.Reduce dry days to 3 in a year: Currently we have too many dry days in Delhi, if we reduce them to just 2nd October, 15 August and 26th January, that will help customers and government both.
The recommendations of the committee will soon be put in the public domain for inviting suggestion from the residents of Delhi and other stake holders.The report will then be submitted to the Delhi government after 24 days, final decision will be taken by the cabinet The approved recommendations will form a part of the excise policy for the financial year 2021-2022.
