The Delhi government has announced a series of dry days in the national capital, which have impacted over 550 liquor vends. These dry days, which occur on specific dates in March, entail a temporary prohibition on the sale of alcohol.
The four dry days in March are scheduled around significant cultural and religious events, including Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti on March 6, Maha Shivaratri on March 8, Holi on March 25, and Good Friday on March 29.
Every year, the Excise department implements dry days during significant cultural and religious events. The aim of this measure is to uphold the sanctity and solemnity of these occasions by limiting the sale of alcohol in shops, bars, and restaurants.
List of Dry Days in March
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti -March 6
- Maha Shivaratri- March 8
- Holi- March 25
- Good Friday- March 29
Types of Dry Day
National Dry Day: Where both Sale of Alcohol by Wine Shops / Liquor Shops/ Serving and /or Sale or Serving of Alcohol by Pubs, Hotels, Restaurants in all forms is Prohibited in all Cities / States of India. India has three National Dry Days: Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti.
Other Dry Day: But – other than these 3 National Dry Days on other dry days – Sale of Alcohol is banned and thus Liquor Shops are closed, but Hotels, Bars and Restaurants can serve in Alcohol within there premises (unless a Notification came from State Excise department came in for Stopping sale of Alcohol).
State Level Dry Day: Apart from it – Sale of Alcohol / Serving of Alcohol by Pubs. Hotels and restaurants will also be banned during elections according to the Election Calendar from April 1st, 2024 to May 31st, 2024 in select states.
As per reports, the Delhi government publishes a list of dry days every three months.
There are 21 dry days according to the currently operational old excise regime. The number of dry days under the Excise Policy 2021-22 were reduced to three only, inviting sharp attack from the BJP on the ruling AAP over liquor vends opening on religious festivals.
In October 2022, the Delhi government declared Dussehra, Diwali, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, and Valmiki Jayanti as dry days.
