Govt considering lowering drinking age for beer to 21

The Delhi government is considering lowering the permissible drinking age for beer in the Capital from 25 to 21-one of many suggestions being contemplated by a high-level committee headed by minister Parvesh Verma, which is drafting the new policy, officials aware of the matter said.

- Snehil Sinha

Delhi is among the states with higher age limits, while several other states, including neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, stipulate a minimum drinking age limit of 21 years. Goa, at the other end of the spectrum, has a minimum drinking age of 18. To be sure, Punjab and Maharashtra have a minimum drinking age of 25.

“An initial draft is being prepared by the department for which we have consulted multiple stakeholders and have also received independent suggestions. We are discussing lowering the permissible drinking age to 21, which has been suggested by many groups, especially for beer. We are hoping that the final policy with all the changes will be ready in the next four months,” an official aware of the committee’s deliberations said on condition of anonymity.