Alcohol Lovers in Delhi, Gurgaon Celebrate! Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit May Soon Deliver Alcohol

Nitin Konde

Jul 17, 2024 — 2 min read

Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit May Soon Deliver Alcohol in Delhi and Other States

Only two states, West Bengal and Odisha, allow alcohol home delivery, but media sources say six states may launch a pilot project after assessing it.

According to reports, Swiggy, BigBasket, Blinkit, and Zomato may soon deliver beer, wine, and liqueurs. Industry executives informed the media that New Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerela, and Goa are considering experimental projects. The media reported that executives indicated authorities are weighing the move's merits and downsides.

Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Assam allowed liquor delivery during Covid-19 lockdowns with limits. Retail executives in West Bengal and Odisha reported a 20-30% sales rise from online delivery.

Expansion's Driver: Consumer Interest and State Evaluations in Alcohol Home Delivery

With the help of the social media network LocalCircles, ISAWI surveyed 33,000 people in eight different cities in May 2021 about spirits delivery. Customers in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Chennai expressed an interest in home delivery services, with 81% citing safety, brand availability, and convenience as reasons to back up their response.

In order to weigh the pros and cons of online alcohol delivery, state officials are currently surveying e-commerce platforms and spirits producers.

Industry Support: Upside of Alcohol Home Delivery

Breweries and the industry as a whole have been quite supportive. Beverage and wine producers have indicated a lot of interest in home delivery of their products, according to industry experts. This includes United Breweries' Kingfisher brand and Budweiser owner AB InBev. Because beer consumption is very consistent with food purchasing patterns, this trend is very attractive, especially to city dwellers.

Industry Challenges: Obstacles of Online Alcohol Delivery

Due to various political backlashes, perception issues, and pressure from physical retail bodies, delivery platforms continue to face obstacles when trying to execute online alcohol delivery plans.

According to HipBar creator Prasanna Natarajan, who spoke to a media house, the company's services were halted due to "certain local lobby pressures" after they had begun operations in Karnataka in 2021. A complaint had even been launched at the Supreme Court by the company.

He went on to say that the regulations governing business in various areas vary substantially, making it difficult to establish businesses throughout large portions of the country. There's concern about the potential consequences of underage buyers or instances of domestic violence resulting from careless drinking. Natarajan had informed the media that there is a fear that duties will be avoided and that the government will lose the three rupees in levies it receives for every rupee a manufacturer generates. This is because the government stands to lose this revenue.

There are, without a doubt, challenges to face. Businesses and consumers alike are excited about this pilot initiative that is taking place across multiple states in India. If this initiative is fruitful, it may serve as a model for similar endeavours in other sectors.