Lowering of drinking-age will stop 'booze visits' to NCR: Officials
The excise policy reforms, reducing the drinking age from 25 years to 21 years, are expected to prevent young people of Delhi from going to NCR cities to quench their thirst for alcohol, officials said. The scaling down of the legal drinking age was recommended by a Delhi Government's group of ministers (GoM) on excise policy reforms, which was approved by the Delhi Cabinet on Monday.
Decision will prevent harassment of people and establishments
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the legal drinking age as recommended by GoM will now be 21 years. "To stop harassment of people and establishments, consumption age will be same as majority Indian states- 21 years like Noida in UP," Sisodia said.
Delhi will become first Indian city to introduce 'age gating'
Sisodia, however, warned that the new rules under the revised excise policy will make sure that those under 21 years cannot have access to the establishments that serve liquor. "The international concept of age gating will be introduced. Delhi will be the first city in India to ensure this to make sure that there is no underage drinking in Delhi," he claimed.
Higher drinking age main reason behind youngsters visiting NCR towns
The Excise Department officials said that higher legal drinking age was the prime reason behind youngsters in Delhi visiting NCR-towns like Noida where it is permissible to serve alcohol to those aged 21 years.
Youngsters visiting bars outside Delhi has meant loss of revenue
"This also meant loss of a significant amount of revenue as those youngsters having disposable income go outside Delhi to buy liquor and have it at bars and hotels in Noida and other cities in neighboring states," said a senior Excise Department officer. An expert committee formed by Sisodia on excise policy reforms has also suggested reducing the minimum drinking age to 21 years.
Section 42 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009
Section 42 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009, explicitly bars the license holder or any person acting on his behalf to sell or deliver liquor to any person apparently under the age of twenty-five years.
Revenue increase of Rs. 1,500-2,000 crore per annum expected
Sisodia said that in some states like Andhra Pradesh and Goa, the permissible drinking age is 18 years while in UP, MP, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, the age of consuming alcohol is 21 years. The Excise Department expects to mop up increased revenue of Rs. 1,500- 2,000 crore per annum following the implementation of the reforms approved by the Delhi Cabinet.
Survey revealed divided opinion over reducing legal drinking age
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles revealed that opinion was divided over reducing the legal drinking age. "We did a support level check, and 50 percent of Delhi residents supported changes in the minimum age to purchase liquor from 25 to 21 years in line with NCR cities," said Sachin Taparia, Founder and Chairman of LocalCircles.
