Imran Khan moves HC over minimum drinking age

Bollywood actor Imran Khan moved the Bombay high court on Wednesday challenging the state government's decision to increase the legal drinking age limit to 25 years. HT reports.

Bollywood actor Imran Khan moved the Bombay high court on Wednesday challenging the state government's decision to increase the legal drinking age limit to 25 years.

HT Image

On Wednesday, Khan, along with his 22-year-old brother-in-law, Vedant Malik, filed the public interest litigation through their counsel Ameet Naik.

The petition has challenged a 2005 notification and the recent proposal for a new De-addiction Policy, through which, the state had resolved to firmly enforce the minimum age requirement of 25 years, for the issuance of permits for the possession, use and consumption of liquor.

The actor argued that it would be irrational to fix 25 years as the minimum age limit for drinking when the minimum age for getting married, casting a vote, driving a vehicle and even owning firearms is 21 years, or lesser in some cases.

As per government rules “mild liquor” and “mild beer”, including wine, can be sold to any person above 21 years of age.

“It is wholly irrational that a person may enter a club, pub, restaurant, disco, lounge or a bar and purchase mild beer and wine at the age of 21 years, but he may not purchase or consume other liquor until he completes 25 years of age,” petition says.

Khan also warned of the lure of the “forbidden fruit”, and hinted that youngsters could end up consuming alcohol in uncontrollable environment.