The Capital’s tipplers are rather amused by a Delhi Electoral Office directive to the Excise Department that aims to curb sale of liquor in the city.
As the followers of Bacchus and supporters of various political candidates were hoping to stock up on liquor for the festive season, the Delhi Electoral Office (DEO) decided to dampen their spirits by issuing a directive to the Excise Department of the Delhi Government, ordering it not to sell more than four bottles to one customer at a time.
At the moment, Excise regulations permit a customer to buy 12 bottles of liquor at a time. The diktat has put the Excise Department in a fix as it stands to lose revenue during the busy Diwali season.
Top sources told The Pioneer that the directive to the Excise Department has been issued in order to keep a check on liquor flow during the election campaigns in the Capital.
“There are apprehensions that liquor will be purchased in bulk so that it can be used to lure voters in resettlement colonies and unauthorised colonies. With stakes running high, the candidates are trying to outdo each other in offering allurements,” sources said.
The Chief Electoral Officer recently held a meeting with the Excise Department and the Intelligence Bureau to chalk out a strategy to contain the illegal transportation, storage and supply of liquor in the city.
However, there are many who doubt that the DEO’s order can be implemented as a booze lover can visit any number of shops in the city and buy as much liquor as he pleases. It will be very tough for the Delhi Police to enforce the ban. A connoisseur of fine liquor scoffed at the very idea of rationing the sale of liquor in a city that loves its sundowners.
“It amazes me that such a restriction is being imposed as it is highly impractical to enforce,” he said. Another one piped in: “What’s stopping a person from buying four bottles at a time from many different shopsIJ How will they keep track of thatIJ”
And it seems that others in the Capital share the view because reports are doing the rounds that certain political parties are going all out to entice voters, even finding innovative ways to supply liquor to them in a bid to bypass the hawk eyes of the Election Commission.
According to those in the know, the voter is given a slip with the number of a currency note which is to be deposited with an identified liquor shop to get alcohol. These slips are being secretively distributed among voters by agents of some candidates.
The liquor vendor, who has already been paid in cash, supplies the bottles or the cartons to the customers on the basis of the numbers written on the slips, a list of which has already been provided to him.
In some cases, cartons of liquor bottles are being directly supplied to the voters’ homes! However, at the moment, the Excise Department is not amused by this diktat as it will hamper the sale of liquor during Diwali and result in huge revenue losses for them.
An Excise official said: “The Election Commission is directing us to keep a tab on the use of liquor by candidates as distribution of free alcohol among voters had become a menace during elections. If we go ahead with the order, the revenue collection will fall.”
However, the Election Commission stands firm. “There are myriad ways in which candidates spend money on wooing the electorate and distribution of liquor is one of them. Though there are no easy solutions to curb the practice, the increase in liquor sales make us suspect that alcohol is being used extensively,” said Election Commission officials.
The sale of liquor and beer was much higher in October this year as compared to the previous year during the same period. As per data, 1,88,38,884 bottles were sold between October 1 and 29, in 2013 while 1,63,01,376 bottles were sold in 2012 during the same period. It is learnt that sale of liquor increased after the announcement of Assembly polls in the Capital.