Delhi Government Considers Lowering Beer Drinking Age from 25 to 21 to Boost Excise Revenue

New Delhi: The Delhi government is exploring a proposal to reduce the legal drinking age for beer from 25 to 21 years under its upcoming excise policy. A high-level committee, led by PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, is consulting various stakeholders, though no final decision has been made, according to official sources cited by PTI.

The move aims to bring Delhi in line with neighbouring NCR cities like Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad, where the legal drinking age is already 21. Officials note that the current higher age limit often pushes younger consumers to buy liquor outside Delhi, resulting in significant revenue leakage.

Delhi currently generates around ₹8,000 crore annually from excise duty, but losses due to cross-border purchases are estimated at ₹4,000–5,000 crore. Officials believe the figure could rise to nearly ₹12,000 crore if such gaps are addressed. A senior government official said the objective is to increase excise revenue without causing inconvenience to the public.

The proposed policy is expected to introduce stricter regulations on the location of liquor outlets, ensuring they are not near residential areas, religious sites, or educational institutions. Additionally, officials are considering encouraging liquor sales in malls and supermarkets, where controlled environments can improve accessibility. Currently, only 14 outlets operate in malls across Delhi, with high rents limiting further expansion.

Stakeholders have also suggested allowing liquor sales at fuel stations and shopping complexes. The government is examining a hybrid model where both government-run and private players could operate liquor shops. At present, over 700 liquor outlets in Delhi are managed by four government corporations.