Legal Drinking age and Dry Days in India

Alcohol laws in India

The legal age of purchasing and consuming alcoholic beverages vary from state to state in India. In some states, the consumption of alcohol is totally prohibited and in some states, the legal age for consumption varies from 18 to 25. It is because of the subject of alcohol comes under the Entry 8 of State List of VII Schedule under the Constitution of India.

In India, Liquor generally sold at bars, liquor stores, restaurants, and hotels. But in the state of Kerala, there has been a complete monopoly of the state as far as the selling of liquor is concerned. The private owners are not allowed to sell liquor in Kerala and therefore, the state has become the sole retailer of liquor in the state.

Some states have totally banned the purchase and consumption of alcohol such as Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and union territory of Lakshadweep and Manipur. While some states banned alcohol consumption in some districts such as Manipur. However, most of the Indian states permit the purchase and consumption of alcohol under the state’s rules & regulation.

Analysis: Legal Drinking Age in the India States

The permitted legal drinking age varies from state to state and in some states, even the purchasing of alcohol and consumption of alcohol age is also different. These rules and regulations create confusion results difficulty in implementing the laws relating to the consumption of alcohol. In many states, the act was silent about either about the valid drinking age or purchasing age. In such a situation, for the purpose of convenience, it is assumed that both the age is the same.

• Legal Drinking Age in Maharashtra

The legal age for consumption of alcohol (hard Liquor) is 25 and for purchasing the alcohol is 18.[1] The legal drinking age for wine and beer consumption is 21 and for other intoxicants or hard liquors, the legal age is 25. There are three districts in Maharashtra in which consumption and selling of alcohol have been totally banned i.e. Wardha district, Gadchiroli district, and Chandrapur district.

• Legal Drinking Age in Karnataka

The legal drinking age in Karnataka as per Karnataka Excise Department, 1967 legal is 21, however as per Section 36 of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 legal age to purchase alcohol is 18 years.

• Legal Drinking Age in Uttar Pradesh

Initially, the legal drinking age in Uttar Pradesh was 18 under the United Provisions Excise Act, 1910 but later it was changed by the amendment act, 1976 in UPA act and raised the drinking age 18 to 21.

Lists of Dry States In India

There are some states in which the sale and purchase of alcohol are completely banned, hence they are called “The Dry States”. The following states are known to be the Dry States-

• Gujarat – The Bombay Prohibition Act was enforced after the demise of the Mahatma Gandhi in 1949 in Bombay state. After bifurcation in 1960, the Act was enforced in both states. However, Maharashtra issues licenses for distribution and sale of alcohol, but in Gujarat, the act is still in force. Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Act was enforced in 2009 which prohibits the manufacture, selling, buying or distributing of spurious liquor i.e. Laththa and makes it a punishable offence.
• Bihar – Section 19 (4) of Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act 2016 has imposed a complete ban on selling and purchasing of alcohol in Bihar.
• Nagaland
• Lakshadweep
• Manipur

Dry Days in India

Dry Days are the days when selling of alcohol is prohibited in every state and union territory of India regardless of different legislations. On the occasions of Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15) and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), dry days are observed every year in India. Voting days are also observed as dry days. There are also other festivals and celebrations in India which are considered as Dry Days.

[1] Maharashtra Prohibition Act of 1949.