Home delivery of liquor might soon be possible through Swiggy, BigBasket, and Zomato in states such as New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Kerala. This is as per an Economic Times report.
Initially, low-alcohol drinks such as beer, wine, and liquor will be reportedly available through the platforms. Ahead of the delivery, the pros and cons of the delivery via e-commerce platforms will be monitored by the state authorities. As of now, only Bengal and Odisha allow home delivery of alcohol.
This is not the first time the food delivery platform has ventured into alcohol delivery. In areas such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Assam, alcohol delivery was allowed during the COVID-19 period through these food delivery platforms.
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Mohit Gupta, Zomato’s CEO for food delivery, had reportedly mentioned, “We believe that a technology-enabled home delivery-based solution can promote responsible consumption of alcohol.” Gupta further added, “The legal age for drinking alcohol varies from state to state, ranging between 18 and 25 years. Zomato would target “areas that are relatively less affected by Covid-19.”
However, the platforms also faced several setbacks while delivering alcohol, including political pressure, pressure from retail bodies, and others. Eventually, in 2021, Zomato exited the alcohol delivery segment.
As per Inc42, a company spokesperson said, “We began Zomato Wines in partnership with various state governments to ensure safe and responsible delivery during the lockdown. Earlier this year, as restrictions continued to ease and in compliance with local laws in the mentioned states, we decided to discontinue the service.”
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While details about the delivery and area are not known, it remains to be seen how consumers will receive this alcohol delivery segment. With the increase in per capita income and increased usage of quick commerce platforms, it seems like a rosy picture. However, it remains to be seen how the market will receive it.
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