The Delhi government on Monday lowered the minimum age for consumption of liquor to 21 years from 25 years bringing it at par with the legal drinking ages in adjoining Noida and Gurugram.

According to the new policy, no new liquor shops will be opened in Delhi and the government will not run any vend. The new excise policy was approved by the Cabinet today on basis of the recommendations of the Group of Ministers.

It was decided that no new liquor shops will be opened in the national capital and the government will not run any liquor shops. At present, 60 per cent of liquor shops in Delhi are run by the government,” Sisodia said at a press conference.

Open or illicit liquor consumption in the national capital will be prohibited and the responsibility lies with the shop owners.

The quality of liquor should be of global standard, said CM Sisodia, adding that the local government will set up a system where the quality of liquor will be checked.

Delhi was the only metropolitan city with a high drinking age – even in Mumbai, only hard liquor is barred for those under 25, while wine and beer are allowed at 21. In major global cities such as New York and London, the drinking age is 21 and 18 respectively.

Section 42 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009, explicitly bars the licence holder or any person acting on his behalf to sell or deliver liquor to any person apparently under the age of twenty-five years.

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