![\"Delhi](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-47529300,imgsize-110164,width-400,height-225,resizemode-75\/47529300.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Delhi: <\/span>Delhi\u2019s excise revenue saw a jump of Rs 153 crore in April and May this year compared with the corresponding period last year.Officials and industry representatives attributed the growth to a combination of factors, including greater policy stability, stricter checks on brand pushing in govt-run liquor stores, the resurgence of national brands and the expansion of large walk-in outlets across the city among others.According to govt data, excise collections from liquor sales in April and May 2026 stood at Rs 1,038 crore, compared with Rs 885 crore in the same period of 2025.The rise comes as Delhi govt has set an excise revenue target of Rs 7,200 crore for 2026-27, slightly above the Rs 7,148 crore collected in the previous financial year.Industry data also points to a significant shift in consumer preferences. National liquor brands, which had steadily lost market share after Delhi, reverted to a govt-run retail model in 2022, regained leadership in May 2026. Their share of liquor sales volume rose to 54%, up from 24% in May 2025.Vinod Giri, director-general of the Brewers\u2019 Association of India, said the share of national brands in Delhi was around 80% when both private and govt-run liquor stores operated before the excise policy rollback. He said the market share of established brands declined sharply after private retail was scrapped and govt stores became the sole retail channel.\u201cUnwarranted trade practices and brand pushing of lesser-known labels in some govt outlets made business difficult for established companies with high compliance standards. The collective share of leading national beer brands had fallen to just 24% in May 2025 but recovered to 54% this May. Greater vigilance by the excise department appears to have helped restore consumer choice and improve sales,\u201d Giri said.Industry representatives, however, argued that further gains would require structural reforms such as demand-based ordering systems, mandatory display of stock availability and conversion of more outlets into self-service walk-in stores to improve transparency and customer experience.The revenue growth has also coincided with a period of greater policy certainty. In March, Delhi govt extended the 2020-21 excise policy for a full year till March 31, 2027. The decision marked the longest extension since Sept 2022, when Delhi reverted to the old regime after the 2021-22 excise policy came under scrutiny over alleged irregularities. Since then, the city had operated under a series of short-term extensions, which industry players said created uncertainty and complicated business planning.<\/div>\n