Delhi govt set to crackdown on online sites selling liquor

According to the Excise Department, the liquor available online is spurious and is sold under the labels of prominent brands

The booming e-commerce trade for apparels and groceries might have been welcomed across the country but selling liquor and buying online might land you in jail, with the Delhi Government set to crackdown on such transactions.

Delhi government's Excise Department has come across certain websites offering online liquor shopping and has recently caught a person supplying Haryana liquor in Delhi through the mode at cheaper rates.

"As per Delhi Excise Act, selling liquor be it Delhi or Haryana - made through online is not allowed in the national capital. We have directed our staff to keep a tight vigil on websites offering online sale of liquor and take strict action against those involved in such e-commerce business," a senior government official told PTI.

The official also said that the Excise Department has sent a list of four-five websites, which offer online liquor shopping, to the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police to arrest their owners.

According to the department, buying liquor online is not safe as the booze might be spurious. In the past months, several gangs were busted which sold spurious liquor under the labels of prominent brands.

"Selling or buying liquor online is an offence under Excise Act. Under Section 33, a person involved in such business may face imprisonment of three years or Rs one lakh fine or both.

"We recently caught a person who used to sell flowers online, but he was also involved in selling liquor through his website. An FIR has been registered against him," official said.

In the last six months, the department has intensified its enforcement drive to nab the persons involved in smuggling of unauthorised liquor in Delhi.

Official said, "During the drive, it was observed that a melange of people from professions like shopkeepers, drivers, carpenters, government employees, farmers, doctors, students and housewives owned these vehicles in which unauthorised liquor was being sold.

"So far, 184 vehicles have been confiscated which were carrying 1,20,409 bottles of unauthorised liquor. About 451 FIRs have been lodged and 456 persons were arrested by police.