In a first, people can now buy seized liquor at 25 per cent cheaper prices than prevailing market rates as the Delhi government has issued an order to sell such liquor.
The liquor can be identified through a label on the bottle – “Authorized confiscated liquor”.
A government official told PTI that foreign and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) liquor, seized during raids by excise and police officials, will be sold only after testing its quality in affiliated laboratories within seven days of seizure.
Until now, seized liquor was destroyed after completing legal formalities in presence of government officials.
According to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the excise department, each of four corporations (government agencies) will designate at least two vends one for foreign liquor and one for IMFL through which the seized liquor can be sold.
The official said Delhi would be first city where seized liquor will not be destroyed. In the first phase, eight vends will be allowed to sell seized liquor.
As per rough estimates, over 2.5 lakh bottles of liquor are seized by excise department every year. In the 2018-19 financial year, liquor worth ₹15 crore had been seized.
The seized liquor includes those smuggled from Haryana and neighboring states where it is available at a cheaper rate and from bars and restaurants serving alcohol without permit.
The SOP said the label of confiscated liquor will be checked to confirm its registration in states concerned.
“If the label of contraband is already approved by excise department concerned that is to say available in the market then it will be confirmed for disposal through L-6 licensees (liquor vends).
