On May 25, 2021, the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) issued a notification permitting the home delivery of wine and liquor within the territory. Likewise, the State of Chhattisgarh announced its intention to permit home delivery of liquor in the state beginning May 10.
These decisions are likely to generate needed tax revenue for the governments of Delhi and Chhattisgarh, which experienced significant revenue losses during the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past year, several Indian states allowed the home delivery of wines and spirits through e-commerce/digital platforms in response to overcrowding at brick-and-mortar liquor shops and to prevent additional revenue losses due to store closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Delhi and Chhattisgarh join the states of Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Odisha that permit home delivery of liquor.
Chhattisgarh
According to local media, the Government of Chhattisgarh issued a notification on May 10 that permits the home delivery of up to five litres of liquor/wine/beer through the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL), which is state-run and controls all liquor sales in the state.
Consumers will be able to make their orders through the CSMCL website or mobile app in state-designated “green zones” related to the prevalence of COVID-19. According to state authorities, the aim of this new rule is to avoid overcrowding at liquor shops. Trade sources have indicated that this measure was also implemented to prevent any illegal sale and possession of liquor during the ongoing lockdown.
Delhi
On May 25, 2021, the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) issued a notification permitting the home delivery of wine and liquor within its territory. According to the Delhi Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2021, L-13 license holders (retail vendors of Indian and foreign liquors) will be able to deliver liquor to Delhi residents as long as customers place orders through a mobile app or website.
This notification also presented new regulations related to the granting/renewal of licenses, vendor registration, and updated compliance procedures, all of which should help streamline the sale and distribution of wine and liquor in the NCTD.
