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Planning to stock up on booze for the festive season? You might have to re-check the price tag before you start filling a trolley at any of Delhi’s liquor marts. Liquor prices in Delhi are expected to rise, what with the capital’s new excise policy expected to roll out in October 2026.
The policy, which is almost ready according to The Indian Express, proposes a number of changes to the way liquor is bought and sold in the capital. A major change proposed in the new policy is the removal of fixed retail margins, which is the amount retailers are allowed to add to the price of a bottle as their profit. Under the new system, that fixed cap could go, and retailers would have more freedom to decide their margins, which means prices could go up or down depending on how shops choose to compete.
In short: the same bottle could become cheaper at one shop and pricier at another.
What does a fixed retailer margin mean for your bottle of whisky?
At present, the difference in alcohol prices between Delhi and its neighbouring cities can be rather eye-watering. Take Johnnie Walker Black Label, for example. A bottle that costs around ₹3,500 in Delhi can reportedly be found for around ₹2,400 in Gurugram. A major reason for this price gap is Delhi’s fixed-margin system. Remove that restriction, and retailers could have more room to adjust their prices. This might make Delhi’s booze shelves a little more competitive with those just across the border.
The same goes for Scotch whisky. Current retail margins can work out to around ₹100 per bottle before dropping to ₹50 and so on. What happens to those margins under the new system is the bit that remains to be seen.
Will private liquor shops enter the scene?
No. Despite the shake-up, Delhi is not expected to throw open its doors to private liquor retailers.
The capital currently relies on government-run liquor shops, and the proposed changes are instead aimed at making these outlets more commercially viable. The idea is that better margins could give retailers more reason to upgrade stores, and, naturally, attract more customers. This can mean less bleak government-shop energy, more polished booze-stop potential. And frankly, for women who like to do their own bottle shopping, beyond shady counters and equally shady men hovering over that counter, this could be a rather welcome upgrade.
How will premium bottles get more shelf space?
This could be the most interesting change, at least for whisky drinkers with expensive taste.
At present, fixed retail margins reportedly make it difficult for Delhi shops to stock premium imported liquor priced above ₹1,000. So when shoppers want the fancier stuff, many simply head to Gurugram or Faridabad, where retailers operate without the same fixed-margin constraints.
With fixed margins about to disappear from Delhi, retailers could have more incentive to stock premium imported bottles. Parallelly, shoppers may no longer need to make a cross-border booze run every time they fancy something a little more tasteful.
So, could Delhi’s liquor shelves finally catch up with its seriously lit cocktail bars and restaurant scene? That remains to be seen. But if the new policy goes through as reported, your next festive-season bottle hunt will look visibly different and possibly involve a lot more browsing before you finally add to cart.
This information is subject to written approval by the Delhi LG.