Delhi News: There is a plan to reduce the legal age for drinking beer in Delhi from 25 years to 21 years. According to officials, this will increase revenue and bring Delhi at par with NCR cities.
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Drinking Legal Age: A big discussion has started regarding the new excise policy of the Delhi government. The government has received a suggestion that the legal minimum age for drinking beer should be reduced from 25 years to 21 years. At present, no final decision has been taken on this, but this step can make the rules for buying and selling liquor in Delhi and its surrounding cities the same.
The legal age for buying and drinking liquor in Delhi is currently 25 years, which is the highest in the entire country. At the same time, this age is fixed at 21 years in NCR cities like Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad.
Due to this difference, youth below 25 years of age in Delhi often go to neighboring cities to buy liquor. This causes a loss of revenue to the Delhi government. For this reason, it has been suggested that the minimum age for beer should be made 21 years in the new policy.
High level committee formed
A high level committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Pravesh Verma. This committee is taking opinions from liquor manufacturers, retailers and other stakeholders. No final decision has been taken yet.
According to officials, the government’s aim is to increase revenue from excise, but at the same time it will also be ensured that the general public does not face any problems.
There will be strictness on the location of shops as well
Not only on reducing the age, but there will also be strictness on the location of liquor shops in the new policy. It is proposed that liquor shops should not be set up near crowded areas, schools-colleges, religious places and residential colonies. Apart from this, there is also a proposal to provide the facility of liquor shops in malls and supermarkets. This will provide a more transparent and convenient system to the people.
Focus on both revenue and convenience
A senior government official says that the purpose of the new excise policy is not only to increase tax, but also to ensure that common people do not face inconvenience. While reducing the age limit can increase revenue, the gap between Delhi and NCR will also end.
If the minimum age for beer in Delhi is made 21 years, then thousands of youth will not need to go to neighboring cities. This can give additional revenue of crores of rupees to Delhi.
However, objections can also be raised by social organizations because they believe that availability of alcohol at an early age is not good for both health and society.
