Reports earlier this week suggested that the Delhi government was considering a major revamp of its excise policy, including lowering the legal drinking age for beer from 25 to 21 and reintroducing private liquor vendors. The alleged proposal was said to align Delhi’s rules with neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, where the drinking age is already 21.
However, Delhi minister Parvesh Verma has categorically denied these claims, calling them “completely baseless.” Responding to allegations made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Verma clarified that no such proposal had been discussed or placed before the government. “There is no such plan,” he told PTI, dismissing speculation about a potential change in the drinking age.
Background to the Rumours
According to earlier reports, the government had discussed reforms with ministers, senior officials, and industry stakeholders. The deliberations allegedly included:
- lowering the drinking age for beer,
- allowing private liquor retailers back into the market, and
- creating a hybrid model combining state-run and private outlets.
Supporters of the supposed plan argued that such changes would help curb black-market sales, reduce revenue leakage to adjoining states, and improve the availability of premium domestic and international liquor brands in Delhi.
Current Liquor Retail Structure
At present, liquor sales in the capital are controlled by state-run corporations, each mandated to sell alcohol at a fixed profit margin. While this ensures uniform pricing, critics say it limits consumer choice and discourages market competition.
Private licences had been scrapped in 2022 after the AAP government’s 2021–22 excise policy came under CBI and Enforcement Directorate scrutiny for alleged irregularities. Before that, Delhi operated under a hybrid model, which allowed both private and government-run outlets.
What Next?
Despite the minister’s strong denial, industry watchers say discussions around restructuring Delhi’s liquor retail framework are likely to continue, especially as neighbouring states offer more competitive options. For now, however, the legal drinking age for beer in Delhi remains at 25, and there is no official move to alter it.
