With the onset of wedding and festival seasons, ordering and buying liquor is set to become a premium experience in Delhi. As a large number of people in the Capital prefer going to neighbouring cities, including Gurgaon and Noida, to buy popular brands, the Excise department on Thursday released a list of 98 vends to give Delhiites an alternative closer home. In a bid to boost sales and increase revenue, the department has urged people to buy alcohol from these premium outlets where all popular and high-end brands are available under the P-10 permit, said officials. “The general public is hereby informed that 98 liquor vends have been designated as preferred vends where all popular brands with sufficient stocks are available for purchase on P-10 permit,” reads a circular. The availability of the brands can be confirmed via the e-Abkari app, it stated. Consumers can also check the status of stocks on the department’s official website. A P-10 permit is issued for private parties or celebratory events organised in farmhouses, banquet halls, motels and parks like weddings. For private parties, one has to pay Rs 10,000 for the permit, while the fee for motels, banquet halls and farmhouses is Rs 15,000. The licence holder can purchase liquor from a maximum of three vends. “P-10 permit is a temporary permit given to people for purchasing liquor in bulk for private parties. But most don't apply for the licence, due to which the government also faces revenue loss.,” said a senior official. The official added, “Between October and the arrival of the New Year, the liquor sale, (both bottle-wise and per day sale) increases. A few days before Dussehra, people stock up alcohol in the wake of gazetted holidays. Further, this is also the wedding season, so, the department is urging the people to buy from these vends using this permit.” Due to the absence of private liquor shops, officials said, people in Delhi go to Gurgaon and Noida to buy premium liquors, primarily looking for popular brands. "Many people also try to avoid taking the P-10 permit to save money. We are urging people to take the permit to avoid any kind of action from the department. The enforcement team conducts surprise inspections, and action is taken against the host for serving liquor in a wedding, engagement or any private function if the licence is not available," an official said. The premium liquor vends are being promoted at a time when the Excise department is lagging behind in achieving its revenue target. It has collected a revenue of Rs 3,000 crore through excise duty so far even as the government has set a target to collect Rs 7,000 crore this financial year. With the collection from April to September, it has achieved only 42.86% of its target. “This move will also help the government meet its target,” said the official.
