Wine lovers in Delhi, raise a toast to this! Soon, queuing up at the rustic and dingy State-owned retail outlets to buy the preferred brand will be a thing of the past. The Delhi Government has decided to allow private department stores — selling fruits, vegetables and groceries — to also retail wine and foreign liquor in line with the practice in neighbouring National Capital Regions of Gurgaon and Noida, apart from States like Maharashtra and Karnataka.
An interesting aspect of the new policy is that wine and imported foreign liquor would be available at the licencee stores for longer hours than at the Government-owned outlets. While the latter open up only in the afternoon, Bacchus lovers can lay hands on their preferred brands as early as 10 am at the department stores. The move is sure to boost wine sales in the Capital substantially.
Talking to The Pioneer, Excise Minister Dr Ashok Kumar Walia confirmed that the Government had decided to allow department stores to sell wine, beer and imported liquor. The new policy has been approved and the notification is likely to be issued early this week. According to Walia, the policy has been framed for those who fight shy of standing in queues at State-owned retail outlets.
A total of 1,48,54,417 cases of wine, imported liquor and beer were sold in Delhi last year. The State Government generated over Rs 1,400 crore from liquor sales in 2009-2010.
However, insiders say the Government had been facing strong resistance from MLAs and councillors whenever a new licence was granted or a new shop opened. But with the new policy, department stores would be encouraged to sell wine and beer along with grocery items to boost their revenue prospects.
According to the new policy, the licence fee for L-53 (for department store) has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh a year. For L-53F (for sell of foreign beer and imported liquor (IFL)), the department store would have to pay additional 10 per cent of the L-53 licence fee 53. The department store will require a carpet area of at least 500 square feet and a minimum six segments in the category of goods that include grocery items, vegetables, frozen foods, sugary and bakery items, toiletries, cosmetics and household goods, toys, sports items, apparels, office stationary, electronic appliances and any other goods.
“The applicant should have a pre-existing department store operational for at least 12 months prior to the date of application and have an annual gross turnover of Rs 15 lakh or more,” the new policy said. A chain of department stores, having annual turnover of more than Rs 5 crore in Delhi, will be eligible to have separate licences for each of its store.
An interesting aspect of the new policy is that wine and imported foreign liquor would be available at the licencee stores for longer hours than at the Government-owned outlets. While the latter open up only in the afternoon, Bacchus lovers can lay hands on their preferred brands as early as 10 am at the department stores. The move is sure to boost wine sales in the Capital substantially.
Talking to The Pioneer, Excise Minister Dr Ashok Kumar Walia confirmed that the Government had decided to allow department stores to sell wine, beer and imported liquor. The new policy has been approved and the notification is likely to be issued early this week. According to Walia, the policy has been framed for those who fight shy of standing in queues at State-owned retail outlets.
A total of 1,48,54,417 cases of wine, imported liquor and beer were sold in Delhi last year. The State Government generated over Rs 1,400 crore from liquor sales in 2009-2010.
However, insiders say the Government had been facing strong resistance from MLAs and councillors whenever a new licence was granted or a new shop opened. But with the new policy, department stores would be encouraged to sell wine and beer along with grocery items to boost their revenue prospects.
According to the new policy, the licence fee for L-53 (for department store) has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh a year. For L-53F (for sell of foreign beer and imported liquor (IFL)), the department store would have to pay additional 10 per cent of the L-53 licence fee 53. The department store will require a carpet area of at least 500 square feet and a minimum six segments in the category of goods that include grocery items, vegetables, frozen foods, sugary and bakery items, toiletries, cosmetics and household goods, toys, sports items, apparels, office stationary, electronic appliances and any other goods.
“The applicant should have a pre-existing department store operational for at least 12 months prior to the date of application and have an annual gross turnover of Rs 15 lakh or more,” the new policy said. A chain of department stores, having annual turnover of more than Rs 5 crore in Delhi, will be eligible to have separate licences for each of its store.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
With thanks : source : DailyPioneer
