Delhi: 3.87 Crore Alcohol Bottles Worth Rs.488 Crores Sold on Diwali
Delhi set a record by selling over 3.87 crore bottles of alcohol in the 15 days leading up to Diwali, boosting revenue but raising questions about alcohol's role in festive celebrations.
This year, Diwali was celebrated with great joy and excitement across India. However, Delhi seemed to celebrate with even more enthusiasm, especially when it came to alcohol sales.
Reports show that more than 3.87 crore bottles of alcohol were sold in Delhi in the 15 days before Diwali, from 15th October to 30th October 2024. This record-breaking figure includes 2.98 crore bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 89.48 lakh bottles of beer, all sold from government-run liquor stores.
Interestingly, on the day of Diwali (31st October), all liquor stores were closed as it was a “dry day.” However, on Diwali eve (30th October), about 34 lakh bottles were sold, bringing in ?61.56 crore in revenue. In total, the Delhi Excise Department collected a huge ?447.62 crore in revenue from alcohol sales this Diwali season.
Compared to last year’s Diwali, the sales saw a big increase. In 2023, 2.69 crore bottles were sold, which means an additional 1.18 crore bottles were sold in 2024.
In 2022, Delhi’s liquor business faced challenges when the AAP government’s new excise policy was canceled. Private operators had been running liquor stores, but the policy was withdrawn in July 2022. Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested due to issues with this policy. You can watch ISH’s video on this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiUAp6aN8Sk
Delhi’s Excise Department is expecting even higher revenues in the coming winter and holiday season, thanks to increased sales.
The growing alcohol sales boost the economy, but it also raises questions. Are high alcohol sales good or bad during festivals? Do people need alcohol to celebrate? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
