Today big news has come for the beer drinkers. The Excise Commissioner has issued the notification. If you also drink alcohol, then it is important for you to know this news.
New Delhi: Today big news has come for those who drink beer, liquor. The Excise Commissioner has issued the notification. If you also drink alcohol, then it is important for you to know this news. In fact, the Delhi government has merged four separate licenses required to serve liquor in independent restaurants (not associated with any corporate chain). In this way, under the new excise policy, which is going to come into force on November 17, now only one license will be required for serving liquor in restaurants. According to a notification issued by the Excise Commissioner in this regard late on Thursday night, the existing L-17, L-17F, L-18 and L-18 F licenses will be merged into L-17 license.
L-17 license is required for serving Indian liquor in independent restaurants while L-17F license is required for serving foreign liquor. The same L-18 and L-18F licenses are for serving Indian and foreign liquor along with wine, beer and alcopop in Indian restaurants. “The move will reduce license paperwork and ease of doing business with multiplicity of licenses, which will be converted into one for four licenses,” said an excise department official.
As per the notification, the annual license fee of L-17 license will be Rs 5 lakh for independent restaurant up to 1,000 sq ft. The same will cost Rs 15 lakh for a restaurant of 1,001 to 2,500 sq ft area and Rs 25 lakh for a restaurant above 2,500 sq ft.
Any Indian or foreign liquor may be served in any area under the L-17 license. It also includes open spaces such as a balcony or terrace or the lower part of a restaurant. However, before giving this license, the area serving liquor will be reviewed from the public eye. Serving alcohol at any event or party beyond the area specified in the same license but within the premises of the license will require a separate P-10E license.
Liquor shall be served by way of glass or full bottle at L-17 restaurant and it shall be the sole responsibility of the licensee to ensure that no bottle is left out of the premises. Live music, professional performances, bands, DJs, karaoke, singing and dancing will be allowed in these L-17 restaurants, the notification said.
