The Delhi government is poised to overhaul its excise policy, with a draft expected within a month that could make premium liquor brands available in all city liquor stores, addressing longstanding consumer frustrations and revenue shortfalls. The blueprint, nearly finalised after extensive consultations led by a high-level committee under Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma, aims to standardise availability and pricing across the National Capital Territory (NCT). Currently, high-end brands are confined to select outlets, prompting complaints and driving customers to neighbouring Gurgaon and Noida in the National Capital Region (NCR), where options are more abundant and often cheaper due to varying state taxes.

The policy shift, informed by stakeholder inputs from retailers, industry experts, and officials, seeks to align Delhi with NCR standards, potentially curbing the estimated annual revenue loss of hundreds of crores from cross-border shopping. "The idea is to bring Delhi on a par with the National Capital Region in terms of availability and pricing of premium liquor," a senior government source told NDTV, emphasising measures to plug leakages in the supply chain.

By democratising access, the initiative could boost sales within the city, enhance competition among vendors, and stabilise excise duties, which form a critical revenue stream for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led administration. The current policy, extended until March 31, 2026, provides a buffer for this transition amid ongoing legal and administrative reviews.

Discussions also touched on progressive reforms, including a proposal to lower the legal drinking age for beer from 25 to 21, mirroring national norms under the Constitution's alcohol provisions. However, officials confirmed no agreement was reached, citing concerns over public health and youth protection in a densely populated urban setting. This reflects the delicate balance the committee is striking between liberalisation and regulation, drawing from past policy experiments that faced scrutiny for favouring private players.

Delhi's excise regime has undergone turbulence since 2021, with the scrapping of a controversial model in 2022 over alleged corruption, leading to a return to government-controlled vending that prioritised revenue over efficiency.

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As the draft nears completion, the focus remains on streamlining distribution, curbing black-market activities, and incorporating digital tracking for transparency—echoing recommendations from the 2023 Shunglu Committee report on excise reforms. Industry observers welcome the premium brand expansion as a consumer-centric move, potentially injecting vitality into Delhi's Rs 10,000-crore liquor market while fostering equitable growth.

With elections looming in early 2026, this policy could signal the AAP's intent to refine governance in everyday sectors, though final approval by the Cabinet will be pivotal. Until then, Delhiites may continue their NCR pilgrimages, but relief appears on the horizon.

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