The Delhi government has decided to reduce the legal age to drink in the city and it will be lowered to 21 years. The current legal age for liquor consumption is 25 years. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday also announced a slew of changes to the excise policy of Delhi.
Sisodia claimed that these changes will play a key role in controlling liquor mafias in the city. While informing about lowering legal drinking age the deputy chief minister said, “A person below 21 will not be allowed to purchase liquor. If there is any doubt, then Identity cards will be checked.”
While addressing a press conference, Sisodia said, “The Kejriwal government has taken a big decision to control the liquor mafias. Key changes will be made in liquor policy to deter them to take undue advantage. An expert committee was formed, and public opinion was also sought in which we got 14,700 comments. After getting recommendations of a group of ministers, the Cabinet has approved these changes.”
According to Sisodia, there was no equal distribution of liquor selling licenses in Delhi and the liquor mafia was taking advantage of this. He said, “58% of Delhi is under served or unserved. 20% of Delhi is over served. There are 272 wards in Delhi. In 80 wards, there are no liquor stores; in 45 wards, only one store. Some areas are underserved and some areas are over-served; so shops will be relocated.
While giving information about action taken against liquor mafias, he also said, “50 % of liquor stores are in only 45 wards due to which liquor mafias thrive. The Excise department has been trying to control this. In the last two years, it has seized seven lakh nine thousand bottles of illegal liquor, 1864 FIRs were lodged, 1,948 people were arrested and 1014 vehicles were impounded.”
He also said that the government has decided not to open any new liquor store in Delhi and informed that none have been opened since 2016. “All the existing government run stores will be auctioned off to private players.”
Sisodia added: “At present, 60% liquor shops in Delhi are run by the government, 40% private shops are generating more revenue; so, it has been decided that the Delhi government will not run any liquor shop. No liquor shop will be less than 500 square feet. Also, no shop will be street facing and no sale will be possible from windows or counters outside the shops. The Delhi government will put in place an international system to ensure that no spurious liquor is sold and quality is maintained.”