Legal age to drink alcohol in Delhi reduced to 21 years

The legal age for drinking alcohol in Delhi has now been reduced to 21, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced. Earlier, it was 25 years.

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: Sisodia said.

Sisodia also said that the Delhi government will not open new liquor shops, adding that the Delhi government has not given license to any new shop since 2016.

He informed that if liquor shops feel that the age of the liquor buyer is less, then they can demand an identity proof.

Notably, in Uttar Pradesh and Pradesh too, the minimum age of consumption of alcohol is 21 years. The first age limit in Delhi was 25 years.

The deputy CM said that the Delhi government will not run any government liquor store. The government had also sought suggestions from the public in this regard and received 14,700 comments. After this, the government took this decision. Sisodia said that the liquor mafia is a big challenge in Delhi, and the government will benefit from revenue of 1 to 2 thousand crores after dealing with the challenge.

Sisodia also informed that by reducing the age limit, illegal sale of liquor and liquor mafia will be dealt with. He said that over 7 lakh illegal bottles of liquor were seized and destroyed last year. He also told that Delhi government has control over 60 percent liquor shops in Delhi, while 40 percent liquor shops are private.

He also informed that now at least 500 square feet of land will be required to open a liquor store.