One month time for objections and suggestions
The Karnataka government has sought suggestions from the public regarding changing the age for drinking and purchasing liquor. The state government has given 30 days time for this. The draft notification titled General Provisions of Karnataka Excise License (Amendment Rules-2023) was published this Monday. The government has sought suggestions and objections from the public within 30 days. An Excise Department official admitted, ‘Reducing the age limit to 18 is one of the long-pending demands of the liquor industry.’
The age limit for starting liquor business will be 21 years.
The Karnataka state government has proposed to change the age for buying and consuming alcohol. On the other hand, if we talk about the sale of liquor, the state government believes that the age for this should be only 21 years. The state government has tried to convey the message of consumption and purchase, its age should be equal to the voting age. But there is no change in the age limit for business.
Ahead of Priyanka’s visit, women showed enthusiasm in the Karnataka Congress, with 109 applying for tickets
Income will increase due to increase in business
Sources in the Excise Department said the liquor industry has been demanding the lowering of the age limit as it would increase the customer base. This will help the state government to earn more revenue. 21,583 crores in 2019-20 and 26,377 crores in 2021-22 through liquor sales. “Some states like Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Puducherry have reduced the age limit to 18,” the official said. The AAP government in New Delhi had also lowered the legal minimum age from 25 to 21 a few months ago. Since then it has been at par with other states like Uttar Pradesh. However, unlike other states, the legal minimum drinking age was raised from 21 to 23.
