New excise policy to be delayed

: The announcement of the Delhi government’s new excise policy is likely to be delayed by two months.

According to a communication from the Excise Department which has allowed the existing policy to be in force additionally for the period of June, a similar extension is expected to be allowed till the policy expires on August 1. Earlier, the government was mulling the announcement of the policy by the end of May.

Drinking age

The policy has been a matter of much debate within the government, especially in relation to the lowering of the drinking age in the Capital. According to a senior government official, lowering of the drinking age from 25 to 21 will not be allowed as those associated with drafting the policy feel that the issue is yet to be subjected to “adequate public debate”.

Meanwhile, the halving of the price of a 24-hour liquor serving licence and, in effect, allowing alcohol to be served at 150 watering holes in the Capital round the clock, is being considered, said an official.

The new policy, according to a source, will seek to enhance the quality of Delhi’s night life — especially from the perspective of foreign tourists — by allowing them to drink as per legal limits, such as 21 for US citizens, 16 to 18 years for Austrians, and 18 for Chinese tourists and so on, as prescribed by their governments back home.