Legal age to drink in Delhi will now be 21: Deputy CM Sisodia

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday announced that the legal drinking age in the national capital has been reduced from 25 to 21. The minimum age for consumption of liquor in Delhi was lowered after the Delhi Cabinet approved a new Excise Policy.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in a press conference, announced the changes to the Excise Police.

Apart from changes in the minimum drinking age, another major announcement made by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was that the Delhi government will no longer run liquor stores in the city and that no new liquor shops will be opened in the national capital.

"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 liquor shops in Delhi are run by the government," Sisodia said at a press conference.

Announcing a set of new rules for liquor shops, the deputy chief minister said liquor stores must have an area of 500 square feet and added that the windows in such stores should not be facing the road.

New Excise Policy expected to raise revenue by 20%

Manish Sisodia said that suggestions have been submitted to abolish the license recommendation system for the hospitality and restaurant sector.

He emphasised that strict action measures will be taken to ensure there is no tax evasion, adding that the new Excise Policy is expected to increase revenue by 20 per cent.

"Government will ensure equitable distribution of liquor shops so that liquor mafia are thrown out of the trade. A revenue growth of 20 per cent is estimated after the reforms in excise department," Manish Sisodia said.