New Delhi: Delhi recorded a 25% jump in liquor sales on the eve of Diwali this year compared to 2025, with the single-day revenue rising to Rs 79.2 crore on Nov 7 from Rs 63.4 crore on Diwali eve in 2025. Sales during the fortnight preceding Diwali also registered a 13.5% increase, according to Delhi govt data.According to a comparative analysis of liquor sales during the pre-Diwali period of 2025 and 2026, “the increase was particularly pronounced on the day immediately preceding Diwali”, said a source.The surge in sales during the festive period is largely attributed to the increase in social gatherings, parties and celebrations around Diwali. With families and friends getting together, households stock up for entertaining guests, said officials. Gifting is another contributing factor, with premium liquor bottles often finding a place in festive hampers and being exchanged as gifts among friends, relatives and business associates. The extended holiday period also encourages people to make bulk purchases, they added.Liquor sales in Delhi during the two weeks preceding Diwali this yearwitnessed a significant increase over the corresponding period in 2025. “The total sales increased from Rs 519 crore in 2025 to Rs 589.2 crore in 2026, registering a growth of 13.5%,” said an official. Diwali day was a dry day in Delhi.The category-wise breakup was not immediately available. Officials, however, said wine, whisky, Scotch whisky and premium liquor brands led the festive sales.The range of liquor available in the city has expanded over the years. The number of registered liquor brands increased from 1,470 in 2023-24 to 1,579 in 2024-25, giving consumers a wider choice across Indian-made foreign liquor, imported spirits, wine and beer.The number of liquor bottles sold in Delhi rose around 12%, increasing from close to 3 crore in 2025 to 3.3 crore in 2026. The jump was sharper on Diwali eve, when bottle sales increased 16.7%, from 34.7 lakh in 2025 to 40.5 lakh in 2026.Delhi’s liquor consumption has seen fluctuations in recent years. Sales, including beer, stood at 2.3 crore cases in 2021-22 and increased to 2.7 crore cases in 2022-23. They subsequently declined to 2.2 crore cases in 2023-24 before recovering to 2.3 crore in 2024-25.The excise department has set a revenue collection target of Rs 7,200 crore for 2026-27 against Rs 7,148 crore in 2025-26.Delhi’s retail liquor trade is currently handled by four govt-run corporations — Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, Delhi Consumer’s Cooperative Wholesale Store and Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation. Together, they operate around 725 retail liquor vends across the city.Private retailers are currently not permitted to run liquor stores in the city, though the 2020-21 excise policy allows them. After the 2021-22 excise policy ran into controversy, govt entrusted retail sales exclusively to the four state-run agencies.
