Eateries, hotels may serve liquor soon in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Restaurants, hotels and clubs will soon start serving liquor on the directions given by Delhi government’s excise department. The direction comes a day after Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) allowed hotels to resume operations. Bars, however, will continue to remain closed.
In a note sent to commissioner (excise) on Thursday, deputy CM Manish Sisodia stated that several state governments, including Assam, Punjab and Rajasthan, had permitted serving of liquor by licence holders under excise rules at tables in restaurants and clubs and in hotel rooms.
“Under the Unlock guidelines, Delhi government has allowed operation of restaurants, subject to social distancing norms. In the DDMA meeting held on August 19, the government also allowed opening of hotels. Bars will remain closed under guidelines issued by Union ministry of home affairs,” the note stated.
A Delhi government official said that the excise department would have to prepare a proposal and DDMA would have to approve it before permission to serve liquor could be given. However, another senior official said that the permission was within the ambit of unlock guidelines and Delhi government could take a decision on it.
Restaurateur and investor Ashish Begwani said the approval to serve alcohol should be given quickly so that outlets could plan their reopening. Currently, he is renovating his outlet “Ophelia” and getting ready to reopen within a week to 10 days of being given official permission to serve alcohol. “Alcohol sales will allow restaurants to at least cover their operating cost and stabilise before the festive season starts,” he added.
“With permission to serve alcohol, we hope to achieve 60-70% of last year’s sales. If we have stable policies for the next three months, we should be back to pre-Covid business,” said Deepak Tandon of “Wok in the Clouds”.
Zorawar Kalra of Massive Restaurants, too, welcomed the move. “Currently, sales remain at a paltry 10-15% of the pre-Covid levels. This move will enable more restaurants to open, which will subsequently lead to a significant increase in employment,” he said.
AD Singh of Olive Group of Restaurants said, “This was a much-needed step as it completes the experience of customers wanting a beer with their pizza or a glass of wine with their pasta. Social distancing rules are anyway in place. In Punjab, this is already in place and there have been no incidents.”