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New Delhi Drinking Age May Be Lowered to 21 |
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
NEW DELHI: The government of New Delhi state plans to ease its liquor rules, which date back to 1914, reducing the legal drinking age from 25 to 21, the Hindustan Times newspaper has reported.
The state cabinet is expected to finish work this week on a new policy that would ease some of the city's restrictive liquor policies, including one that bans women from serving alcohol in bars, it said.
The proposed policy has been in the works for over two years, but has been watered down due to pressure from conservatives.
Proposals to reduce the number of dry days - national and religious holidays on which sales and public consumption of alcohol are banned - were rejected along with a plan to extend liquor shop operating hours, the report said.
Delhi officials could not be reached for comment Saturday.
The newspaper quoted state Finance Minister A.K. Walia as saying the new policy would enable the government to focus instead on cracking down on bootleggers.
The city already has eased some liquor laws, allowing bars in five-star hotels to be open around the clock.
The legal drinking age varies throughout India. In some places it is 18 or 21, and in some states alcohol is illegal altogether.
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