New Delhi: Delhi's festive celebrations translated into brisk business for liquor retailers, with alcohol sales touching nearly Rs 600 crore in the fortnight leading up to Diwali, marking a 13 percent increase over the corresponding period last year.
According to provisional Excise Department data, Delhiites purchased 3.31 crore liquor bottles during the festive fortnight, compared with 2.96 crore bottles in 2025.
The value of liquor sales rose to Rs 589.17 crore from Rs 518.97 crore a year earlier, reflecting strong festive demand across the national capital.
The biggest buying spree came on November 7, a day before Diwali, when liquor sales surged to Rs 79.25 crore in a single day.
As many as 40.45 lakh bottles flew off the shelves on Diwali eve, compared with 34.70 lakh bottles worth Rs 63.40 crore on the corresponding day last year.
The sharp spike came ahead of the mandatory closure of liquor shops on Diwali, which was declared a dry day under an earlier Excise Department order.
Officials said liquor sales revenue in the period covered by the department's broader comparison rose 24.9 percent to Rs 792.52 crore in 2026, against Rs 634.08 crore in the corresponding period of 2025.
The figures indicate robust demand during the festive season, with both sales volumes and revenue recording double-digit growth.
However, the Excise Department clarified that the figures remain provisional and are subject to reconciliation following final confirmation from the four government corporations responsible for retail liquor sales.
Delhi's liquor retail market is operated exclusively through four government entities — Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC) and Delhi Consumers' Cooperative Wholesale Store (DCCWS).
Together, these corporations operate more than 700 liquor outlets across the national capital, selling Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), imported liquor and beer.
The festive surge has provided a significant boost to liquor sales revenue, underscoring the scale of Delhi's alcohol consumption during the holiday season.
(PSU Watch is India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy. 👉 Click to join our channel now: PSUWatch WhatsApp Channel. Prefer LinkedIn? Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN. Click to stay connected on Twitter here and stay updated)