A Delhi government committee has recommended making 21 the permitted drinking age and reduction of the number of dry days to three in a year. The suggestions have reportedly been made in an attempt to earn more money from sale of liquor considering its revenue implications and also to stop malpractices like smuggling and tax evasion in Delhi.
According to Section 23 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009, no person or licensed vendor or his employee or agent shall sell or deliver any liquor to any person apparently under the age of 25 years, whether for consumption by self or others. When the validity of this Section was challenged before the Delhi High Court, it had observed that the Section only prohibits a licensee to sell or deliver liquor to a person of less than 25 years of age and the prohibition has nothing to do with the age of drinking.
In September, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia had constituted the committee under the chairmanship of the excise commissioner to suggest measures for augmenting state excise duty revenue and to recommend steps to transform the nature of the liquor trade commensurate with the changing stature of the capital.
The sale and manufacture of liquor forms a major part of revenue in several states and its resumption has benefited them as their finances were disrupted due to the lockdown.
The committee has drafted its report suggesting that the permitted drinking age may be fixed at 21 years and the number of dry days reduced to three on parity with Delhi’s neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It has recommended that three retail liquor vends each be set up in all 272 municipal wards of the capital to ensure that there is equitable access to liquor for all residents of Delhi.
This story is from the January 18, 2021 edition of India Legal.
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This story is from the January 18, 2021 edition of India Legal.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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