Delhi to have five dry days as 'Old Excise policy' extended for 6 months

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Wednesday extended 'Old Excise policy' for six months, asks officials to soon prepare a new excise policy, reported ANI.

There will be 5 dry days during these 6 months on Mahavir Jayanti, Good Friday, Buddha Purnima, Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha.

The number of dry days under the Excise Policy 2021-22 were reduced to three only, inviting sharp attack from the BJP on the ruling AAP over liquor vends opening on religious festivals.

The Delhi government scrapped its Excise Policy 2021-22 and withdrew it on August 31 last year after a CBI probe was recommended by Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V K Saxena into alleged irregularities in its implementation.

Returning to the old excise regime, the government had allowed its four corporations to open liquor vends, replacing the private vendors under the Excise Policy 2021-22.

The six-month period for which the old excise regime was allowed to operate ended on February 28.

Currently, there are 570 retail liquor stores and more than 950 hotels, restaurants and clubs have the license to serve alcohol in the city.

Earlier, the three-member committee, given the responsibility to come up with a new excise policy, had sought a month's extension to finish it.