HC wants Delhi govt's response on plea seeking to minimize drinking age

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the Delhi government's response on a plea seeking to lower the legal drinking age from currently 25 years in the national capital. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar listed the matter for October 9.

The plea was filed by social activist Kush Kalra through his counsel Charu Walikhanna who sought to minimise legal drinking age in Delhi while focusing on responsible consumption and responsible sale of alcohol in the city.

The petitioner has sought quashing of Section 23 of Delhi Excise Act which prescribes 25 years as the legal age of drinking in the national capital and said it discriminated against the residents of Delhi.

The social activist mentioned the legal drinking age in other states like Sikkim and Goa where the minimum drinking age is 18 and 21 years respectively.

"It is a well-settled principle that when there is equality and uniformity within each group, the law will not be condemned as discriminative. However, the huge variations as practised by the Delhi government towards young persons as the minimum legal age of drinking in different states is creating a disparity with potential for adverse consequences and encouraging disdain for the law," the petitioner said.

He also sought directions to the Delhi government to conduct awareness programmes on responsible consumption of alcohol among college and school-going students by including it in the curriculum.