Delhi was one of only six constituencies or unions that averaged 25. A committee of experts set up by the government recommended in December that the legal drinking age is changed to 21 years.
Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday announced a reduction in the legal age for drinking alcohol in the national capital from 21 to 25. He also said that no new liquor stores would be opened in Delhi.
"The official drinking age in Delhi is now 21 years old. There will be no more government shops in Delhi. No new liquor stores will be opened in the national capital," Sisodia told a news conference announcing a change in the national capital's policy."A new commodity policy has been approved by Cabinet today on the recommendation of the Ministerial Team. Currently, 60 percent of Delhi's liquor stores are state-owned," Sisodia said."The government will ensure the equitable distribution of liquor outlets so that the alcohol mafia is thrown out of the market. A 20 percent increase in revenue is estimated after the changes in the Department of Commerce," he added.
Delhi was one of only six states or union territories that averaged 25. A committee of experts set up by the government recommended in December that the legal drinking age be changed to 21 years. In some cities such as Mumbai, only heavy alcohol is banned for those under 25, white wine and beer are allowed for 21-year-olds. In major cities around the world such as New York and London, the drinking age is 21 and 18 respectively.
This comes in the wake of recent government data, which showed that the per capita income per person living in Delhi in 2019-20 was 89 3,89,143. This is almost three times the national average of Rs. 1,34,432. This shows that the city has the purchasing power available if the legal age is not reduced. In terms of demand, 58% of the population in Delhi is under 30, and 68% continue to fall within the working class.
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