New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Tipplers in Delhi may face problems in getting their favourite brands in the next one-and-half months as around 40 per cent of liquor vends in the national capital that are run privately will shut down from October 1.

Under the new excise policy of the Delhi government, all the 850 liquor vends, including the 260-odd outlets run privately, have been given to private firms through open tender.

Also Read | Vivo X70 Pro, Vivo X70 Pro+ Smartphones To Be Launched in India Tomorrow; Expected Prices, Features & Spec.

The new licence holders will start retail sale of liquor in the city from November 17.

In the transition period of nearly one-and-half months, only government-run liquor vends will remain open. The government vends will close down on November 16.

Also Read | Maharashtra Monsoon Deaths: 436 Killed in Various Rain-Related Incidents Across State Since June 1.

"There are already problems in getting one's favourite brands since the private liquor store in my neighbourhood has depleted its stock as it is wrapping up business. Permanent closure of private shops means more problem," said a Laxmi Nagar resident, Dhiraj Kumar.

An Excise department official said that the government vends have been asked to stock up in view of an expected surge in demand.

"Its a transition phase and some people may have problems but there will be no shortage as there are adequate number of government vends to cater to the demand," the officer said.

There are around 720 operating liquor vends, out of which nearly 260 or 40 per cent are privately run, he said.

The department has also prepared to check the possibility of illicit liquor entering the city from neighbouring states due to closure of private shops.

There are 26 municipal wards in the city where no liquor shops will open after September 30 as they were catered to by private vends only. There are already 80 wards where there is no liquor vends.

The Delhi government under its new excise policy divided the city into 32 zones and bid the liquor vends there aiming an equitable distribution of retail liquor business across the city. Each zone comprising 8-10 wards will have around 27 vends.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)