Delhi Lowers Legal Drinking Age To 21 From 25; Private Vendors To Run All Liquor Shops

by Suchismita Pal
Delhi Lowers Legal Drinking Age To 21 From 25; Private Vendors To Run All Liquor Shops

The Delhi government has lowered the legal drinking age in the national capital from 25 to 21. Additionally, the government has also stated that no new liquor shops will open up in the city. According to a Business Today report, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said in a press conference, “The legal age to drink in Delhi will now be 21. There will be no government liquor stores in Delhi. No new liquor shops will be opened in the national capital.” Read on to know more.

Legal Drinking Age Delhi
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Restaurants To Allow Takeaways of Draught Beer

The legal drinking age in Delhi has been reduced to 21 from 25. Also, the authorities are anticipating the growth of excise from alcohol sale by around 20 per cent annually instead of 5 per cent. In 2019-2020, the excise revenue in Delhi was around ₹6574 crores. After the new excise policy, it is expected to exceed ₹8000 crores. There have also been talks of reducing the number of dry days in a year to only three- Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti. At present, Delhi has 21 dry days in a year. The authorities have set new rules for restaurants as well. Restaurants can sell liquor in open spaces and can allow takeaways of draught beer in bottles or growlers. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Residents Will Now Need A License To Store & Drink Alcohol At Home.

Legal Drinking Age Delhi
Picture Credits: Pexels

Also Read: 6 Temples In India That Offer Liquor, Chocolates & Other Unusual Offerings To Its Deities

Delhi To Have 5 Super Premium Vends

There will be 5 super premium vends in Delhi that can remain open till 11 PM, an hour longer than other vends. These super premium vends will have price floors too, with the minimum price of beer being ₹200. The minimum retail price for all other spirits will be ₹1000. The legal drinking age in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal is also 21. In Maharashtra, only beer and wine are allowed from 21, and the minimum age has to be 25 for hard drinks. The legal age for drinking in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Meghalaya is 18. In Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, the minimum drinking age is 25 and the same is 23 in Kerala.