Forget thekas and bootleggers, welcome to Delhi's 'daaru mall'

In 2010 Delhi got its first liquor outlet at a shopping mall to target foreign tourists who were visiting the country’s capital during the CommonWealth Games. Three years later, the city not only has more sprawling liquor outlets in high end malls but has an entire mall dedicated to alcohol.

According to a report in the Economic Times, DLF Galleria, which was pretty much deserted after opening in 2010, now has eight large liqour stores, with two more slated to open in the coming months.

These liquor stores sell everything from local booze to imported wines and liqueurs.

[caption id=“attachment_923825” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] File image of alcohol. AFP image[/caption]

Almost 20,000 sq ft out of the estimated 25,000 sq ft of space on the ground floor is snapped up by liquor sellers, while the floors above have been rented to offices due to a slowdown in retail sector.

And alcohol and workplace sure is a lethal combination. Moreover, given thatthere is full mall dedicated to alcohol, chances of adulteration and fake brands are rather low. And since the mall is close to Noida, people living in UP can surely buy booze at a lower cost.

The liquor shops in malls were kick started by the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited to not only lure foreigners but also women who found it safer to buy liquor from vends located inside malls rather than thekas and bootleggers in the city.

Following the approval for opening local vends inside malls, one saw sprawling booze shops in Select Citywalk in Saket, two at Westend Mall in Janakpuri, two at Manglam Palace in Rohini, one each at West Gate and Paragon mall in Raja Garden, one at V3S Mall in Laxmi Nagar and one at Netaji Subhash Palace at Wazirpur.

The licence under L-56 is one of the most expensive liquor licences on offer, with an annual fee of Rs 6 lakh. The vends also have to pay a security of Rs 10 lakh.

Read the full ET report here .