Why Delhi airport's T-3 liquor shop is struggling to stay open

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The liquor store at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport Terminal 3, situated in the arrivals section, is grappling with low sales, staffing troubles and inadequate stock, prompting concern from airport authorities.

Officials at the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) have flagged these persistent issues to the Delhi Consumer’s Co-operative Wholesale Store Limited (DCCWS), which runs the outlet. According to The Indian Express, airport authorities highlighted in an email that restricted staff access and unresolved operational problems have significantly disrupted business and customer experience.

“This is to bring to your notice that for the past two months, the store has been facing operational challenges — stock issues… leading to loss of business… Staff airport entry issues are also leading to inadequate manpower at stores, leading to inconsistent customer experience,” The Indian Express cited airport officials’ email to DCCWS.

Sources reportedly told that the outlet was briefly shut earlier this month after staff passes were not renewed in time. A note pasted outside the shuttered shop had read, “The store’s sales have been stopped due to the lack of staff passes.”

An official from the Excise department later confirmed that the entry passes and identity cards of staff working at the liquor shop had not been renewed, which led to the shop being closed for a couple of days. However, the issue was subsequently resolved.

Despite resuming operations, the store continues to face challenges. Data accessed by The Indian Express shows a sharp dip in daily average sales — from Rs 3.04 lakh in January to Rs 2.20 lakh in May. While March showed a temporary spike with Rs 3.52 lakh in daily revenue, figures have declined since.

In its letter, the airport authority acknowledged the initial buzz generated by the shop’s reopening but urged immediate intervention. This walk-in, self-service liquor store at T3 is the only one of its kind at IGI Airport catering to both domestic and international travellers. It reopened under DCCWS last year and operates round the clock. The outlet had previously been shut for almost two years after the 2021-22 excise policy — later scrapped — came under investigation by agencies including the CBI.

Since the rollback of the controversial liquor policy, Delhi’s liquor retailing has been entirely brought under government control. The DCCWS is among four state-run bodies authorised to operate liquor stores in the capital, along with the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, the Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited.

The current contract for the liquor outlet at IGI’s Terminal 3 is set to expire on June 6, as per The Indian Express. As of now, the Excise Commissioner has not responded to queries or calls.