India: New Era - New Reforms in 2021 for Delhi's Alcoholic Beverage Industry

On March 22, 2021, the Government of Delhi announced a new alcoholic beverage excise tax policy impacting the capital region. In its order, the Delhi state authority will not permit new liquor shops from opening within the capital in 2021 and will no longer operate its government-run liquor shops to ensure equitable distribution of private alcohol retail outlets. The order also lowers the legal drinking age from 25 to 21 years. According to the Delhi government, these policy changes intend to increase tax revenue by 20 percent this year while removing approximately 2,000 unregistered illegally operating, tax-evading liquor stores within the capital.