Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, BigBasket to deliver alcohol soon?

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Good news for alcohol enthusiasts. No more waiting in line outside liquor stores as several online apps now deliver alcohol to your doorstep.

Alcohol enthusiasts have some good news. They no longer need to wait in long lines outside liquor stores to buy alcohol, beer, or wine. Several online apps will now deliver alcohol to your doorstep. In fact, states like Delhi and Haryana, among others, are working on introducing home delivery of alcohol. Let’s find out how this initiative will begin, which platforms will handle the deliveries, and why the decision of home-delivery of alcohol was made.

Pilot trials to begin soon

States such as Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala are working on pilot projects to allow home delivery of alcohol. The delivery is manageable via online platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and BigBasket. According to a report from the Economic Times, industry insiders suggest that the home delivery initiative might start with low-alcohol drinks like beer and wine.

Currently, home delivery of alcohol is permitted in West Bengal and Odisha. It is possible that other states might also start this service soon. An executive mentioned in the report that the growing population in major cities and the preference for enjoying alcohol with meals are factors driving this move. Additionally, this step considers women and senior citizens who may not prefer to visit liquor stores.

Swiggy and Spencer Retail are currently providing alcohol home delivery services in West Bengal. Dinkar Vashisth, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Swiggy, states that online models maintain complete transaction records, adhere to age verification, and follow rules related to limits. Furthermore, these models work in alignment with government and excise regulations. They ensure adherence to timing restrictions, dry days, and zonal delivery rules.

Not a first-time proposal

During the COVID-19 lockdown, alcohol delivery was possible with certain restrictions in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Assam. However, alcohol delivery is no longer legal in these states.

The current selling model involves e-commerce and quick delivery platforms. This includes picking up stock from retail vendors and then delivering it to customers. According to the report, online delivery has led to a 20-30% increase in alcohol sales in Bengal and Odisha, particularly for premium brands.

Officials from states including Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana are discussing the pros and cons of online delivery with e-commerce platforms and alcohol manufacturers. Proposals made for home delivery of alcohol is not a first. But political disputes, public perceptions of alcohol, and pressure from retail sellers have previously hindered the progress of these proposals.