Understanding Delhi's liquor policy

The Delhi Cabinet on Monday approved its new excise policy reducing the minimum age for consumption of liquor from 25 to 21. Let us have a look at the Delhi's liquor policy in detail.

With about 2 crore population, Delhi is one of the biggest liquor markets in India. It is also ‘home’ to a huge floating population from the neighbouring states and a halt capital for Indians from all over the country. Alcohol is in high demand in Delhi and a major source of income for the government. The Delhi Cabinet on Monday approved a new excise policy, announcing a serious of changes focused on the sale and consumption of liquor. The most important announcement was the lowering of the minimum age for consumption of liquor to 21 years from 25 years. But Delhi had an excise policy that was framed in 2009. Since then, the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) took away a number of articles out of the excise kitty. The 21st-century generation was not queuing up at a liquor shop yet. Alcohol was still somewhat restricted. Delhi needed an overhaul of its excise policy.