Liquor becomes an excuse, whether in happiness or sadness. Liquor is generally part of every celebration, whether it is marriage or someone’s birth day party. In India, generally not on almost every occasion, but on most of the occasions, liquor is served generously. But few people are aware about the laws regarding liquor consumption. In India every state has its own law regarding it.
In the last few years, cravings in relation to liquor have increased considerably in India. Five percent of the world’s liquor is consumed by Indians. The journal Lancet says, that two-thirds of liquor consumption in India is mainly illegal. Due to liquor in most parts of the country, there is anarchy in the communities of tribal, backward and working class.
For state governments, the fast growing liquor industry is like a source to fill its treasure. In some states, liquor sales generate over 20 percent of the revenue. The laws governing liquor have been included in the 7th paragraph of the Constitution of India under the state list. Therefore, there is no similarity in the laws related to liquor in India.
Legal age for Liquor Consumption
There are different laws in different states regarding legal age for consuming and purchase of liquor. The age of consumption is the age when a person can legally drink liquor. Whereas purchase age is the age when a person is entitled to buy liquor legally from a licensed seller. This difference has created much confusion and chaos in the last few years and due to this the laws related to liquor in India have been ineffective. The legal age for buying liquor in Maharashtra is 18 years while the legal age for liquor consumption is 25.
| State | Legal Drinking Age |
| Andhra Pradesh | 21 |
| Arunanchal Pradesh | 21 |
| Assam | 21 |
| Chandigarh | 25 |
| Delhi | 25 |
| Goa | 18 |
| Haryana | 25 |
| Himanchal Pradesh | 18 |
| Jammu-Kashmir | 21 |
| Jharkhand | 21 |
| Karnataka | 18 |
| Kerala | 21 |
| Maharastra (Wine) | 18 |
| Maharastra(Beer) | 21 |
| Maharastra(Other alcoholic Beverages) | 25 |
| Meghalaya | 21 |
| Orissa | 21 |
| Pondichery | 18 |
| Punjab | 21 |
| Rajasthan | 18 |
| Sikkim | 18 |
| Tamilnadu | 21 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 18 |
| Uttarakhand | 21 |
| West Bengal | 21 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 18 |
Dry states in India
In some states of India, the sale and purchase of alcohol is completely prohibited and it is a punishable offense. These states are:
Gujarat-Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment Bill) was passed in 2009 with the consent of the Governor in Gujarat.
Bihar- Through Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill 2016 liquor sales and possession were restricted.
Nagaland – In 1989, the sale and consumption of alcohol was banned by passing the Nagaland Alcohol Total Prohibition Act (“NLTP”).
Manipur- This northeastern state, Manipur had passed the 1991 Manipur liquor Prohibition Act and imposed a ban on the sale and consumption of liquor.
Lakshadweep: Lakshadweep is the only Union Territory which bans the sale and consumption of liquor. But liquor consumption is allowed on the Bangarmau island of Lakshadweep.
Drunken Driving law
Drunken driving under the Driving Motor Vehicles Act is a punishable offense. Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act states that: Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, Under the influence of intoxicants or drugs, whoever tries to drive, or while driving(A), in its blood, alcohol should not be more than 30 milligrams per 100 ml as per breath analyzer test, or,(B) is in effect of a drug due to which is unable to maintain proper control over the vehicle, it will be punishable with imprisonment for first offense, which can be up to six months, or up to two thousand rupees fine or both.
Drinking in Public Places
In India fine of Rs 5000 can be imposed for liquor consumption in public places and if a person drinks liquor and create chaos, penalty can be increased to Rs 10,000. Period of jail can increase up to three months.