Delhi directs age verification at on-trade drinking

The Delhi government has directed hotels, clubs, and restaurants serving liquor to verify the age of their customers using hard copies of government-issued ID proofs.

The move came after Excise Department officials found violations of the legal drinking age norm during random inspections at various establishments. The Delhi Excise Act, 2009, prohibits selling or delivering liquor to those under 25 years of age and violations can lead to penalties. However, officials noted that some individuals used fake or edited digital IDs to bypass the age restriction.

A circular issued by the excise department emphasised that only physical IDs, except those stored in DigiLocker, should be accepted for age verification.

Additionally, the Delhi government directive also supports the city’s recent drug-free campaign, which aims to eliminate drug abuse within three years. For this, the management of hotels, clubs and restaurants have been asked to take an e-pledge on the Excise Department’s website, prominently display certificates, and raise awareness among staff and customers about the dangers of drug abuse.