Read Time: 03 minutes

The Delhi High Court today agreed to hear a plea seeking to quash the provisions in the New Excise Policy 2021-22 which has reduced the age for consumption of liquor in the national capital.

The Division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice on the plea filed by NGO, All India Bhrashtachar Virodhi Morcha seeking to bring the provisions in consonance with that of the neighbouring states.

The petitioner NGO has further sought for a direction to quash the provision in the New Policy which states that there will be no government owned liquors vends for Indian made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and foreign liquor (FL) and which provides for only privately owned vends for sale of IMFL and FL.

Advocate Vijay Sharma appearing for the petitioner NGO argued that reducing the minimum ages from 25 to 21 would increase the consumption of alcohol amongst the younger generations and was contrary to Article 47 of the Constitution which states that “the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.”

The petitioner has further stated that the common people who are the consumers of liquor will also be affected in as much as they are assured of the quality when they purchase liquor from govt vends whereas the said assurance will not be there in case of private vends.

The Court has listed the matter for next hearing on September 17.

Case Title: All India Bhrashtachar Virodhi Morcha v. GNCTD