New Delhi: Ahead of the implementation of new excise policies, the Delhi government has combined four separate licenses.
Now, a single license is needed to serve liquor in the restaurant in the capital.
This step aims to reduce documents and facilitate the ease of doing business, officials said.
Meanwhile, the lack of liquor has been about the capital with existing government shops preparing to end their business while private stores have been closed to make their way for large liquor stores.
Many government shops report shortages of various brands and they no longer refill their shares.
New liquor stores are allowed to open from November 17 and many stores are in the final stage of completion.
According to the notification issued by the Commissioner of Excise, L-17, L-17 F, L-18, L-18 F license will be combined into a L-17 license in accordance with reports of a group of ministers released earlier this year.
L-17 license is intended for Indian liquor services in restaurants, while L-17F licenses are intended for foreign liquor services in restaurants.
L-18 and L-18F licenses are needed to serve liquor such as wine and beer in the restaurant.
Notification explains that the L-17 license license fee will be Rs 5 lakh for restaurants with an area of 1,000 square feet, Rs 15 Lakh for 1,001 to 2,500 feet and Rs 25 lakh for above 2,500 square feet.
The L-17 license holder can serve Indian or foreign liquor in any area, including a balcony, terrace or open space or a lower restaurant area.
They, however, are needed to ensure that the area where liquor will be served played from public views.
A liquor trader, who did not want to be identified, said that the capital headed for the liquor crisis because while all existing stores would be closed from November 17, 850 new liquor stores would not be opened in one day.
“Many shops are ready but only a handful of stores tend to be open on November 17,” the merchant said.
Traders also added that only 35 brands of liquor were registered under the new excise policy for a few days ago while Delhi had around 400 brands registered under the old excise policy.
“The Excise Ministry must accelerate brand registration before November 17.”
Restaurants in Delhi need a single license for liquor
