 The step should make setting up of wine bars a practical reality- a policy which has not come a day too early.
The decision was taken by a Delhi cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, which approved the Excise Policy for 2009-10
The state government also allowed setting up of wine and liquor shops in the shopping malls-again a couple of years later than the neighbouring states. It also decided to open 83 more liquor shops in the city taking the number to 590. Of the 83 new shops, 54 will be of IMFL and 29 will sell country liquor.
The Delhi cabinet approved the Excise Policy for the year 2009-10, which would encourage mild drinks over hard ones while allowing newer outlets for the sale of liquor,' it was reportedly announced after the meeting.
The details are not clear yet but the minister said the government’s policy encouraged consumption of mild liquor instead of hard liquor. Hopefully, some better deal can be expected by the wine consumers. A senior excise official said they were not yet clear themselves about the policy.
Delhi Finance and Excise Minister A.K. Walia said a new type of licence for wholesale supplies of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) is being introduced where the wholesale supplier would be allowed to open retail shops of his own products registered in Delhi.
This seems to be a far cry from the wine importers and producers clamouring to be allowed to open similar retail shops at their own excise controlled warehouses.
The poor man seems to be the major sufferer in the new policy as the prices of country made liquor are being revised upwards by around 20%. The cabinet approved increase in rate of quart from Rs. 50 to Rs. 60, pint from Rs. 25 to Rs. 30 - to help the government increase its tax revenue to about Rs. 350 million, ' the minister said.
Further information will be posted as it is made available. Wine is lower in the list of priority for the government while announcing any policy decisions regarding wine and liquor, understandably due to much higher revenues received from hard liquor. |