Legal age to drink lowered to 21 from 25 in Delhi, announces Manish Sisodia

Delhi was one of only six states or union territories that pegged the benchmark at 25. An expert committee set up by the government recommended in December that the legal drinking age be changed to 21.

Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday announced lowering of legal age to drink liquor in the national capital to 21 from 25. He also said that no new liquor shops will be opened in Delhi.

File photo of Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. (ANI)

"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 at a press conference announcing changes to the national capital's excise policy.

"The new excise policy was approved by the Cabinet today on basis of the recommendations of the Group of Ministers. At present, 60 per cent liquor shops in Delhi are run by the government," Sisodia said.

"Government will ensure equitable distribution of liquor shops so that liquor mafia are thrown out of the trade. A revenue growth of 20 per cent is estimated after the reforms in excise department," he added.

Delhi was one of only six states or union territories that pegged the benchmark at 25. An expert committee set up by the government recommended in December that the legal drinking age be changed to 21.

This comes after the recent government data, which showed that the per capita income for a resident of Delhi in 2019-20 was ₹3,89,143. This is almost three times the national figure of ₹1,34,432.

This indicates that the city has the required buying power inc ase the legal age is reduced. As for the demand side, 58% of Delhi’s population is below 30 and 68% of this fall under the working age group.