New Delhi: On Monday, Manish Sisodia, Deputy CM of Delhi declared that in Delhi, the legal age to consume alcohol will be 21. Earlier it was fixed at 25 which prompted a large number of customers to move to NCR towns for alcohol.
This step is to give a new lease of life to the alcohol and the associated industries. Sisodia said at a press conference, “The legal age to drink in Delhi will be 21. There will be no government liquor stores in Delhi”.
On Monday, Arvind Kejriwal approved the new excise policy of Delhi under which this move is one of the many reforms. Even the new policy will come into effect within a few days. The government is also aiming to throw the liquor mafia out of the trade.
To ensure that the liquor sold in Delhi is of international standard, the government of Delhi has decided to establish a quality check mechanism. Currently, the Delhi government runs 60% of the Capital’s liquor vends, and so they have decided to exit the liquor business.
To help the liquor vends get modernized, the government will also promote private participation. The policy includes equitable distribution of liquor as some areas of Delhi have a higher concentration of liquor shops. It is estimated that all the reforms will result in a 20% growth of the excise revenue.