In a move to make life easier for those who enjoy a drink, Swiggy and Zomato have started delivering alcohol to your doorstep! 🚪🍺Back in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, these popular delivery platforms expanded their services to include alcohol delivery in non-metro areas. Swiggy kicked off its alcohol delivery service in Ranchi after getting the necessary permissions from the Jharkhand government. Following suit, Zomato also launched this service in Ranchi and planned to extend it to seven more cities. Though getting the permissions might take a few weeks to a month, both companies are in talks with officials in major metro cities to expand their services. Swiggy even considered extending alcohol delivery services to cities in Odisha but had to put those plans on hold due to Cyclone Amphan.
Currently, only Odisha and West Bengal allow home delivery of alcohol. Despite restrictions during the COVID-19 lockdown, states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Assam granted temporary permissions for alcohol deliveries, which proved successful. Reports from ET indicated that online deliveries boosted sales by 20-30% in West Bengal and Odisha.
Industry executives noted that online alcohol delivery is a convenient solution for many, especially those in big cities who enjoy moderate alcohol consumption with their meals. It also benefits women and senior citizens who find traditional liquor store experiences uncomfortable. 🥳
