The Delhi government’s upcoming policy may soon bring new changes to how liquor stores operate in the city. The new draft policy proposed by the Delhi government is currently in its final stages and is being prepared by a committee chaired by Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma as of November 2025 and will likely be finalized in this month itself. What is this new proposal and how will the excise policy change alcohol retail in Delhi? Here are all the details.
The new Delhi liquor policy will soon bring new changes to the alcohol retail space in the city. This new policy proposes larger, better-designed government-run stores and higher profit margins for retailers. The draft policy is in its drafting stage and is expected to be finalized by November 2025.
This draft, according to senior officials, proposes the continuation of the existing retail model. In this model, liquor sales are mostly managed by four government corporations. This will effectively rule out the return of private players that had been proposed in the now-scrapped liquor policy that was proposed by the previous government. The Delhi government corporations will maintain a policy that will retain the current system, according to a senior government official.
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Other additions to this policy include an increase in per-bottle margins for retailers, from the current INR 50 for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and INR 100 for imported alcohol to a higher, yet undisclosed amount. The move is aimed at encouraging retailers to stock premium brands and maintain a wider range of options for consumers.
Officials have also stated that higher margins will incentivize stores to offer quality liquor instead of focusing on cheaper varieties. This move will likely discourage aggressive brand pushing by sales staff.
Today, Delhi has over 700 liquor vends currently that are operated by four government agencies – the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC) and Delhi Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Store (DCCWS).
The committee is likely to recommend that these agencies upgrade their existing infrastructure and ensure that the liquor stores in malls and commercial spaces were bigger, better-outfitted to improve customer experience. Officials have stated that the idea is to create more organized and spacious outlets that will improve service, reduce crowding, and boost retail sales. While there are swanky, lavish stores already in Delhi NCR, more such stores and commercial establishments are soon to pop up in the city.
At present, a large number of vends function from small, rented spaces, and this results in congestion and long queues outside shops. The new draft proposes stricter zoning regulations to make sure that liquor shops are located away from residential areas, educational institutions, and religious sites.
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With multiple rounds of consultations with industry stakeholders, the reviewed liquor policy is set to be implemented soon in Delhi NCR. The success of this policy will then likely open chances of it being implemented in other states.
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