Haryana lowers drinking age from 25 to 21 years

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 22

Youngsters in Haryana can now say cheers at 21 years as the legal age for drinking has been brought down from 25 years. The Haryana Vidhan Sabha today approved without any discussion the Haryana Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2021, paving the way for reduction in the age limit for drinking.

Tabling the Bill, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said socio-economic conditions had changed drastically from the time when the earlier provisions regarding drinking age were incorporated in the Excise Act. “The people are now more educated and participating in new endeavours and can also take rational decision when it comes to responsible drinking,” he said.

Several other states, including Delhi, had recently lowered the drinking age to 21. Now, the age limit for grant of licence for manufacturing and wholesale and retail sale of country-made liquor has also been reduced from 25 to 21 years. Besides, the age for employment at licensed wholesale or retail outlets has also been lowered.