Restaurant owners welcome Delhi Govt move to serve liquor, expects a rebate on liquor fees
Restaurant owners welcome Delhi Govt move to serve liquor, expects a rebate on liquor fees

Delhi government has allowed restaurants, hotels and bars to serve liquor and has directed the excise department to issue permission in this regard.

“The government has given the proposal to start the liquor due to the revenue reason and has excise dept to issue permission,” said Joy Singh, Owner, Raasta that was one of the first bar at Hauz Khas to change the face of the market.

This happened a day after, the government allowed the hotels to resume operations.

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“It is a good move for F&B as we will have another element to showcase to the customer and alcohol has been a driving force for places like us. That would be a better situation for us as we are today,” added Singh who is hopeful that with liquor added to the menu they may see some hike in the sale.

Looking at states like Punjab and Rajasthan, the government has allowed hotels and restaurants to serve alcohol in the rooms and at the tables respectively while keeping bars shut.

Though, restaurant and bar owners welcomed the decision but were keeping their fingers crossed for no tussles between the government and lieutenant governor (LG) Anil Baijal on the order.

“We at DutyFree wholeheartedly welcome and appreciate the move by the Delhi government by taking a better call to save cities restaurant which is facing the crisis and without alcohol the sales was only just 10 % of the pre-covid business. With addition to the alcohol as offering we look at doing at least 40-50% of the pre-covid sales that will mean overcoming our losses,” shared Varun Puri of The DutyFree Bar.

According to the order directed by deputy CM, Manish Sisodia, bars will remain closed under the provisions of unlock guidelines of the ministry of home affairs.

However, several state governments, including Assam, Punjab, Rajasthan etc have permitted service of liquor by license holders under the excise rules at the table in the restaurants and clubs and in the hotel rooms,” the order said.

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“Considering the revenue implications, excise department to issue necessary permission for service of liquor in the restaurant and clubs by licensees at the table and in the hotel rooms,” it added.

“A pizza without a beer or pasta without a wine was definitely an incomplete meal; hence we can say that it was much needed. Also, the fee for the first six month which is around Rs 4.5 lac i.e from April to September was already paid in the March while the restaurant continue to remain shut for a period of over six months,” added Puri who expects a rebate on the fees paid for the period when restaurants were not operational.

 
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