What is a Liquor License?
A liquor license is a permit given by the state excise department to those who wish to sell alcoholic beverages at a certain place.
This license is issued only after close scrutiny to all the details of the license holder because selling liquor without a license is an offence under various state laws.
Why is liquor license required?
The phenomenon of the consumption of alcohol is not only among the rich class of the society, but even the middle class and the poor youth consume it more to a higher extent. The factors which trigger them are the easy availability, weak implementation of laws etc. To ostensibly mitigate the wrongful sale of liquor licenses provide for a checking a mechanism.
It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute or sell intoxicating liquor without a state license issued by the state supervisor of the division alcohol and tobacco control.
Therefore, to maintain the health and the state of peace & order in the country, there is a requirement to regulate the selling of liquor and hence a liquor license is necessary.
The Delhi Liquor License Rules, 1976 pronounces the types of licenses that serve liquor in the State. Besides this, the act also ensures to supply safe and quality liquor to its consumers. The categories of licenses used to sell the different variants of liquor are many. A few of the liquor brands, which requires special trading licenses, are:
Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL)
Country liquor
Denatured & Special Denatured Spirit
Rectified Spirit
Wholesale licensee for Indian Made Foreign Liquor
TYPES OF LIQUOR LICENCE
Grant of L-1 License
The L-1 license is for wholesale vending to companies, societies or proprietorship firms subject to the condition that the applicant owns distillery/breweries/manufacturing units/bottling plants. Moreover, he/she has to abide by the terms and conditions ordained by the concerned authorities.
Grant of L-6 License
The L-6 license is for retail sales of foreign liquor/beer. Issuance of this license is to choose undertakings of the Delhi government, namely DTTDC, DSIDC, DSCSC and DCCWS.
Grant of L-9 License
The L-9 license is for the retail sale of various brands of Indian liquor and foreign liquor. This license was previously known as L-52 D. To attain this license, and the applicant requires to abide by the terms and conditions ordained by the concerned authorities.
Grant of L-10 License
The L-10 license is for the retail sale of various brands of Indian liquor and foreign liquor. However, the terms and conditions for an L-9 license do not apply to L-10 licenses.
Grant of P-10 and P-13
These licenses are temporary licenses for serving liquor in parties, functions and conferences. The terms and conditions ordained for these licenses vary for residents, hotels, clubs, restaurants and other premises.
Grant of L-15 and L-16
These licenses are to star hotels that are approved by the Department of Tourism to accommodate the tourists. The hotel management has to abide by the terms and conditions ordained by the authorities.
Grant of L-17 and L-18
These licenses are for the star hotels that are approved by the Department of Tourism. These establishments must be located in a commercial area with adequate space for parking.
Grant of L-28
The L-28 license is for clubs that have been registered with the registrar of cooperative societies to provide services of foreign liquor to its club members. All clubs that agree to the specified terms and conditions can apply for this license.
Grant of L-29
The L-29 license is for clubs or mess that provides liquor or beer exclusively for Government Servants; which are not subject to commercial rates and rules. The application procedure and the required documents for an L-29 license are similar to that of L-28 license.
Renewal of license
To retain a license, renew every year by remitting the appropriate fee.