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- Published: March 22, 2021 19:06
New Delhi: The legal age for drinking alcohol in Delhi has now been reduced to 21 from 25 years, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Monday. In adjacent towns Noida and Gurugram, the legal age for consuming liquor is 25.
Sisodia also announced that no new liquor shops will be opened in the national capital. The liquor ‘reforms’ was apparently undertaken after the suggestion of group of ministers on the excise policy.
“The Delhi government will not operate any liquor shops and all shops will be run through private vendors. A bidding process will be conducted soon. We have decided not to increase the prices. No new liquor shops will be opened in the national capital,” he said.
At present, 60 per cent liquor shops in the national capital are run by the Delhi government, while the remaining 40 per cent are operated by private vendors.
“We have prepared for some major changes in the new excise policy which will be announced soon. We are expecting that with the new excise policy, the Delhi government will witness an uptick in revenues,” the Deputy CM said.
Post age relaxation, Memes & GIFs inundate Twitter
After Manish Sisodia announcement to allow age relaxation from 25 to 21 years, netizens hailed the move with memes and GIFs. However, many were miffed with state govt putting restrictions on the number of liquor vends in the capital.
— Nehr_who? (@Nher_who) March 22, 2021
— Paso corto (@H33nG) March 22, 2021
Delhi ke ache din to AAP la rahi ha. pic.twitter.com/2CA23hVJEi
— ??Rohit Dadwal?? (@rohitdadwal1994) March 22, 2021
NOT that it matters to me, but still: pic.twitter.com/Tj8WJdOwkL
— Comrade “फन-दाता” (गो करुणा) ? (@PhakkLogic) March 22, 2021
Delhi was the only metropolitan city with the high drinking age – even in Mumbai, only hard liquor is barred for those under 25, while wine and beer is allowed at 21. In major global cities such as New York and London, the drinking age is 21 and 18 respectively.