Alcohol gets cheaper in Delhi as government withdraws 70 per cent Special Corona Fee

Following the cabinet meeting, Delhi Government decided to remove 70 per cent' special corona fee' of the liquor sold in the State from June 10 onwards. The special corona fee was imposed on May 3 at the end of Lockdown 2.0.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal decided to withdraw the 'special corona fee' on MRP of liquor bottles. The 'special corona fee' on alcohol MRP was imposed last month when the Delhi Govt allowed wine shops to resume their businesses. The wine shops witnessed long lines without any lockdown norms being followed, and the Delhi excise department was forced to impose special corona fee on liquor MRP. It was also the states way of earning additional revenue. 

Looking at the long queues outside wine shops, the Govt introduced e-coupon system. The system would allow people to visit wine shops only at a given time and date, provided by e-coupon. 

However, on the other hand, the Delhi Government has increased Value Added Tax (VAT) by 20 to 25 per cent on all categories of liquor bottles. 

Meanwhile, the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation sold liquor of worth Rs 47.6 crore between May 4-30 whereas, the Tourism and Transport Development Corporation sold alcohol worth Rs 86.5 crore. 

Wine shops under State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited and the Delhi Consumer's Cooperative Wholesale Store sold alcohol worth 45.2 crores between May 4 to 30. Private liquor shops earned revenue of Rs 9.9 crore by selling liquor bottles between May 23-30. 

Delhi has now crossed 31,000 corona positive cases, and the death toll stands at 905. The capital also witnessed 11, 861recoveries, and 14,556 are home quarantined. In the past 24 hours, Delhi reported 1,366 cases taking the total count to 31,309.