<p>Priya Sharma drove more than 30 kilometres to get to an exclusive boutique in a teeming New Delhi residential district -- a women-only liquor store.</p>.<p>Inside a shopping mall, the store provides a safe environment for women to buy alcohol in a city where harassment and discrimination is a daily battle and many women fear going out at night.</p>.<p>Buying a bottle of wine or whisky on a Saturday night in the Indian capital has always been a fight for position inside a hot and cramped store, where customers -- mostly men -- scream orders at stressed-out staff.</p>.<p>"I have always avoided going into an alcohol store," said Sharma, whose name was changed so that her family would not know where she had been.</p>.<p>"I usually ask someone to get it for me," she told AFP inside the store with a sign on its glass door reading "Exclusively for ladies".</p>.<p>"Men judge when women buy and drink alcohol. I can't deny it," said a man who accompanied Sharma to the door. The store does let couples in but they are rare.</p>.<p>"That is why we specifically came to this store so that Priya can decide what she wants in an environment where she doesn't feel uncomfortable."</p>.<p>The gang-rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus in 2012 sparked weeks of protests and put the spotlight on the treatment of women in India.</p>.<p>Criminal law was toughened for offences against women and across India, while reserved seats for women on buses and metro trains have also become a common sight in cities.</p>.<p>But women in New Delhi are still feeling the prying eyes at off-licences.</p>.<p>Anisha Saigal, 29, said a routine walk from a liquor store to her car or home was an invitation to judge her "moral code of conduct" in a way she had not faced in any other country.</p>.<p>"Even if nothing happens physically, the gaze that follows after women purchase alcohol is unsolicited and disturbing," she said.</p>.<p>Opened in 2015, the women-only store in eastern New Delhi is believed to be the first and only such shop in India.</p>.<p>"I have been in the business for a very long time and have seen women being uncomfortable at liquor stores," said Umesh Saxena, the manager of the store.</p>.<p>"I have had customers tell me they are glad they have this outlet where they don't have to worry."</p>.<p>The store sees higher sales in wine and vodka -- particular favourites among women.</p>.<p>"This is definitely an enabling environment for women to buy -- without fear -- whatever they want to drink," said 50-year-old Mimi Choudhury.</p>.<p>Saxena's employees also believe the store plays an important role in the liquor business in the city of 20 million people.</p>.<p>Staff member Priyanka said she was glad she only has to talk to women.</p>.<p>"If I walk across to the store right across the corridor and buy anything, men will still stare. At least here, I know I'm safe," she told AFP.</p>
<p>Priya Sharma drove more than 30 kilometres to get to an exclusive boutique in a teeming New Delhi residential district -- a women-only liquor store.</p>.<p>Inside a shopping mall, the store provides a safe environment for women to buy alcohol in a city where harassment and discrimination is a daily battle and many women fear going out at night.</p>.<p>Buying a bottle of wine or whisky on a Saturday night in the Indian capital has always been a fight for position inside a hot and cramped store, where customers -- mostly men -- scream orders at stressed-out staff.</p>.<p>"I have always avoided going into an alcohol store," said Sharma, whose name was changed so that her family would not know where she had been.</p>.<p>"I usually ask someone to get it for me," she told AFP inside the store with a sign on its glass door reading "Exclusively for ladies".</p>.<p>"Men judge when women buy and drink alcohol. I can't deny it," said a man who accompanied Sharma to the door. The store does let couples in but they are rare.</p>.<p>"That is why we specifically came to this store so that Priya can decide what she wants in an environment where she doesn't feel uncomfortable."</p>.<p>The gang-rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus in 2012 sparked weeks of protests and put the spotlight on the treatment of women in India.</p>.<p>Criminal law was toughened for offences against women and across India, while reserved seats for women on buses and metro trains have also become a common sight in cities.</p>.<p>But women in New Delhi are still feeling the prying eyes at off-licences.</p>.<p>Anisha Saigal, 29, said a routine walk from a liquor store to her car or home was an invitation to judge her "moral code of conduct" in a way she had not faced in any other country.</p>.<p>"Even if nothing happens physically, the gaze that follows after women purchase alcohol is unsolicited and disturbing," she said.</p>.<p>Opened in 2015, the women-only store in eastern New Delhi is believed to be the first and only such shop in India.</p>.<p>"I have been in the business for a very long time and have seen women being uncomfortable at liquor stores," said Umesh Saxena, the manager of the store.</p>.<p>"I have had customers tell me they are glad they have this outlet where they don't have to worry."</p>.<p>The store sees higher sales in wine and vodka -- particular favourites among women.</p>.<p>"This is definitely an enabling environment for women to buy -- without fear -- whatever they want to drink," said 50-year-old Mimi Choudhury.</p>.<p>Saxena's employees also believe the store plays an important role in the liquor business in the city of 20 million people.</p>.<p>Staff member Priyanka said she was glad she only has to talk to women.</p>.<p>"If I walk across to the store right across the corridor and buy anything, men will still stare. At least here, I know I'm safe," she told AFP.</p>