Action against those selling liquor to those below 25 years: Delhi government

The Delhi government has warned all the liquor vends, hotels, clubs, bars and pubs across the national Capital against selling and serving alcohol to "underage" customers, saying that any non-compliance of the rules would attract strict action, including cancellation of licence.

According to the Delhi Excise Rules, serving liquor to any person below 25 years is an offence. In case of any doubt about the age of the customer, the city's clubs, bars, pubs, liquor vends and hotels can ask for "age proof" from them. "No person or licensed vendor or his employee or agent can sell or deliver any liquor to any person under the age of 25 years. We consider serving or selling liquor to the underage customer as a major offence," a senior official said.

"If the offence is proved, strict action, including cancellation or suspension of licence and imposition of heavy fines, on an erring establishment can be taken under the Delhi Excise Rules," said the official.

The Delhi Excise Department recently suspended the license of a famous bar in south Delhi's Hauz Khas for serving liquor to an "underage" customer. "The government officials should time-to-time check whether the bars, hotels, pubs and liquor vends in their localities are following the excise rules. And if any underage customer is found having alcohol during their visit, strict action is initiated against the establishment," the official said.

A proposal to bring down the legal drinking age from the current 25 to 21 in the city had been submitted to the Delhi government in 2015, but the Aam Aadmi Party's government rejected it.