Recently, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra suggested lowering the legal drinking age in Delhi to 21. Currently, it is set at 25 in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and a few other States while it is 18 in many other States. Delhi students express their views.
Sayoni, M.A. Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityIt would be better if the legal age is reduced for certain types of alcohol, which have lower alcohol percentage. None of the alcohol shops in Delhi ask for customer’s age proof before selling it. People much younger than 25 years are sold alcohol in black market shops. Instead of legalisation, awareness is required.
The government should make the people aware of the consequences of alcohol consumption. The existing rules should be enforced more strictly to ensure that people stick to them.
Reyna Shruti, B.A. (Honours) History, St. Stephen’s CollegeI agree with Kapil Mishra’s suggestion. By the time a person is 21, they already have the right to vote, drive and marry. This is the age by which many become financially independent. It is absurd to believe that these legal adults cannot handle alcohol. If the legal drinking age is reduced to 21, people will be able to drink and buy alcohol from supervised and licensed restaurants, bars and shops.
This is a much safer measure than them having to buy it from shady places. This will also take away the “thrill” that comes along with rule breaking, so the idea itself will become normalised and less exciting.
Sayantani Mustafi, B.A. (Honours) Journalism and Mass Communication, Lady Shri Ram CollegeThe legal drinking age should be reduced to 21. When we are given the right to elect our own government at 18, it is obvious that people above 21 years will be able to decide what is right or wrong in the context of alcohol consumption. The government should make the people aware of the consequences of alcohol consumption. The existing rules should be enforced more strictly to ensure that people stick to them.
