According to top officials engaged in the case, the Delhi government is unlikely to decrease the legal drinking age from 25 as it attempts to finalise a new excise policy following almost three years of ambiguity.
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Karnataka are among the six states whose liquor laws are being reviewed by the government in an effort to find best practices for a policy that has long been controversial.
A senior excise official stated, “The goal is to develop a non-adventurous policy that strikes a balance between the public interest and effective regulation.”
Delhi is anticipated to keep its prohibition on the delivery of alcoholic beverages to homes, as well as the present legal drinking age.
Officials claim that the goal is to guarantee that customers have access to high-quality spirits while combating illicit sales, safeguarding the public’s health, and enhancing corporate operations.
Following accusations of improper behaviour, the most recent significant revision to the excise policy threw the Aam Aadmi Party into political turmoil.
As the Delhi government works to establish a new excise policy after nearly three years of uncertainty, senior officials involved in the matter say it is unlikely to lower the legal drinking age from 25.
In an attempt to identify best practices for a long-controversial policy, the government is reviewing the liquor laws of six states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Karnataka.
The legal drinking age in Delhi is still significantly higher than in many other large cities. For example, in Mumbai, beer and wine are allowed from the age of 21, but only hard liquor is forbidden for those under 25. In contrast, New York and London have legal drinking ages of 21 and 18, respectively. Regarding the issue, the excise agency chose not to comment.
