Days after uproar over its contentious liquor order and with restaurants calling it strange, the Delhi Excise Department has diluted it by adding constraints on certain beverages to keep them on bar shelves and changing the deadline for the execution of the order.

The amended order would now kick in from October 1  2019, instead of August 31 as directed earlier.

On August 26, the Delhi Excise Department instructed beer shops and hotels about serving liquor to remove old stocks from the shelves, citing the problem of refilling liquor cans and adulteration at bar counters in the prescribed time limit on “First In First Out” basis.
The time limit for various categories of liquors was three, five and eight days after which they had to be destroyed. As per the modified order, the three-day time limit after which certain drinks were to be removed from bar counters would apply only to Champagne and sparkling wines.

The maximum time limit of eight days would now apply only to whisky and vodka sold in the price range of Rs 1,501 to Rs 4,500 for 750 ml pack size. All other drinks such as gin, scotch and tequila have been removed from the list.

“For a different pack size, the MRP (maximum retail price) shall be adjusted proportionately. The time limit at the bar counters for the same shall be eight days only,” Ranjeet Singh, Deputy Commissioner in the Department of Excise, Entertainment and Luxury Tax, Delhi Government, said in his order.

Singh also clarified that the order issued on August 26 restricting the time for disposal of liquor will not apply to liquor stock lying at the designated liquor stores.

According to the original order, if the liquors were not demolished within the specified time, the inventory that stayed un-exhausted or un-served would be considered to have been consumed and had to be taken out from the bar registers.

This liquor stock would need to be destroyed within seven days after making an inventory of the same. Non-compliance of the order would result in cancellation and suspension of liquor licence of hotel bars and restaurants, the Excise order had said.