"The sale of liquor picks up during festivals like Holi and Diwali in Delhi as it is not only bought for personal consumption and stocking but also for giving as gifts," a senior excise department official said.
As per data from the excise department, 3.04 crore liquor bottles were sold in the last 18 days leading up to Diwali amounting to sales worth Rs 525.84 crore. In the same period before the festival last year, 2.11 crore bottles were sold.