NEW DELHI: Delhi govt is considering lowering the legal age for drinking beer from 25 to 21, bringing it in sync with neighbouring states, sources said. It may also allow private vendors. The proposal, part of a review of the excise policy, was discussed at a meeting of ministers, govt officials, and private liquor sellers. In Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, the drinking age is 21 for all liquor. The stakeholders said syncing drinking age would check black market sales and protect state revenues.
Govt mulling hybrid model for liquor shops Violating the law on drinking age is punishable under Delhi Excise Act, 2009. While the policy is still being drafted, govt officials revealed that other key structural revisions too were considered in the first round of high-level committee meeting headed by PWD Minister Parvesh Verma with stakeholders from the liquor industry on Monday. The committee includes industries minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, home minister Ashish Sood and senior officials of excise department.The meeting considered a hybrid model for running liquor shops, mixing government outlets with private shops. At present, only govt-run shops sell alcohol in Delhi.The previous AAP government scrapped private licences in 2022 after its new excise policy allowing private retailers triggered controversies and invited CBI and ED probes into alleged irregularities and corruption.Then AAP govt introduced a new excise policy in 2021-22 that aimed to replace govt-run liquor shops with private ones, moving the retail sector towards private players and firms to boost revenue. Before that it was hybrid model, which the present BJP-led govt is now considering bringing back.The committee is also looking at ways to streamline the availability of premium national and international liquor brands. Many of these are either unavailable or in short supply in Delhi, pushing customers to neighbouring states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.At present, four state-run corporations run liquor vends across Delhi. Each outlet receives a fixed profit margin of Rs 50 on most hard spirits, irrespective of the retail price or type of liquor. Though it ensures uniformity, it has stymied the potential for innovation and customer experience, said officials.The govt plans to study the excise regimes of neighbouring states as part of the policy review.
