With the announcement of the new liquor policy, the Delhi government is expecting a hike of at least 20 percent in its annual excise revenue.
The legal age to drink in Delhi has now been changed to 21. Yes! In a major reform, the Delhi government on Monday approved a new excise policy that brought down the minimum drinking age for consumption of alcohol from 25 to 21.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in a press conference, announced the changes to the Excise Policy. Apart from the changes done in the minimum drinking age, he also announced that the Delhi government will no longer run liquor shops in the national capital and that no new liquor shops will be opened in the city. With the announcement of the new liquor policy, he said that with the new changes, the Delhi government is expecting a hike of at least 20 percent in its annual excise revenue.
These new reforms are being introduced by the government to end the role of the liquor mafia in the city. At present, the government holds around 60 percent of liquor shops in Delhi. Around 850 liquor stores are authorised by the government but at present liquor mafia-run 2,000 illegal shops, therefore this new excise policy is being introduced by the government to end the mafia raj.
Drinking age in other states:
The legal age of purchasing and consuming alcoholic beverages varies from state to state in India. In some states, the consumption of alcohol is totally prohibited and, in some states, the legal age for consumption varies from 18 to 25.
Usually in India, liquor is generally sold at bars, liquor stores, restaurants, and hotels. But in the state of Kerala, the state has become the sole retailer of liquor in the state. The private owners are not allowed to sell liquor in Kerala and the state government enjoys a complete monopoly in the state as far as the selling of liquor is concerned. While Kerala holds an absolute monopoly on liquor in states, there are some states in the country that have totally banned the purchase and consumption of alcohol.
States which exercise a complete ban on the consumption of alcohol (dry states): Bihar, Gujarat, Nagaland, Lakshadweep, and Mizoram come in the category of dry states or Union Territories. Liquor is completely prohibited here. There is a partial ban on some districts in Manipur.
25 years: In Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Maharashtra (and previously Delhi) drinking is not allowed until a person attains the age of 25. However, light beer is allowed at age 21 in Maharashtra.
23 years: Kerala in December 2017, increased its drinking age limit from 21 years to 23 years.
18 years: In Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Puducherry, Sikkim, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, people are allowed to consume liquor at the age of 18 years.
While in other states, people are allowed to consume alcohol when they reach the age of 21.
From serious to hilarious reactions on Twitter:
As soon as the announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Twitter like always was on fire. From serious reactions of the positives and negatives of the policy to hilarious reactions, netizens expressed their feelings about the new law.