Delhi mulls lowering legal drinking age for beer to 21

An Excise Committee headed by Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma is examining a proposal to reduce the legal drinking age for beer in the capital from 25 to 21. The panel, set up last month to create a “transparent and socially secure” excise policy, held a meeting earlier this week with key stakeholders to review the current market scenario and gather feedback.

A senior official said Delhi’s drinking age is higher than that of neighbouring states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana that permit alcohol consumption from 21. “Due to this restriction, people either consume alcohol illegally or travel to Noida or Gurugram. Lowering the legal age for beer will help keep youngsters away from hard liquor and also boost government revenue,” the official explained.

While the discussions are still at a preliminary stage, the official informed the Excise department has been asked to draft a proposal, which will undergo several rounds of consultation before being sent for cabinet approval.

This is not the first time such a move has been considered. The previous government proposed reducing the legal age in its 2021 Excise Policy, but the plan did not pass.

The government is also debating whether to reintroduce private liquor shops. In November 2021, private vendors briefly took over retail operations, but the policy faced probes by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation. The plan was scrapped in 2022, with only government-run liquor outlets currently allowed to operate.