9 out of 10 boys and nearly 7 of 10 girls have alcohol before 18, shows data, even as Delhi mulls reducing drinking age from 25 to 21.

A study conducted among children in Delhi aged between 20 and 25 has revealed that 89.8 percent of boys and 64.6 of girls surveyed have consumed alcohol before they turned 18.

The survey found underage drinking has gone up by 22.5 percent since 2012 in the age group of 18-25 years.

Done by leading NGO Community Against Drunk Driving (CADD) in collaboration with the Delhi Police and National Crime Records Bureau, the survey comes at a time when the Delhi government is mulling to reduce the drinking age from 25 to 21.

But the government has no immediate plans to bring in the change. "Yes. We are holding consultations with various stake holders and also inviting suggestions from organisations working in the field. But there is no immediate plan. This year's excise policy is already out and whatever change will be affected will be from the next year if at all," said a source in the Kejriwal government.

The survey also revealed that one out five respondents had alcohol by the age of 12. 75% of them under the age of 25 have drunk driven. It was also found there was no age proof check at points of sale like bars, pubs, government and private liquor shops.

Prince Singhal, co-founder of CADD, who submitted this report to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently, said: "Seeking 21 years as standard age of consumption of alcohol across India would make enforcement, monitoring, awareness and prevention of underage drink driving easier."

Archaic age limit

He said 25 year-limit for drinking is an archaic law and reminded that one is allowed to drive and vote at 18 years and marry at 21.

"To successfully implement lowering the age to 21 years and to check underage drinking and drunk driving, the Delhi Government would need to have a more structured commission/regulatory body headed by the honourable Chief Minister, which could be the Delhi Commission to prevent underage drinking and drunk driving .The above body would also look into the various aspects of drunk driving as well and also address the multiple issues which need to be tackled to bring down drunk driving deaths," said CADD.

"Such a body would help to bring in the necessary social change both in terms of drinking pattern and drunk driving collectively and positively addressing the key issues relating to the following-- Drunk driving laws and age legislation, enforcement review, excise policy awareness and education, public opinion and research, victim support, the degree of accountability of all concerned departments," said the NGO.

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra had, during a recent meeting with restaurant owners on September 25, come out in support of reduction of age limit. Describing the current policy on the age of drinking as "impractical" and unrealistic", Mishra had said this was resulting in harassment of both consumers and owners of restaurants and bars.

He said when he looked at the list of states, he found Delhi as one of the few who have stuck to 25 years. "Many BJP-ruled states too have adopted 21 years as the drinking age," he said.

Mishra had said that if National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) makes the demand as part of a report on recommendations sought by them, the tourism department will take up the matter with the government. "Currently this is my opinion on the subject, but if NRAI makes the demand officially then I will take up the matter with the government and explore possibilities," he said.

According to Singhal's document, annually over 1,500 people are killed on the roads of the national capital.



Regulatory body

Besides a structured commission or regulatory body to be headed by the chief minister, the NGO has suggested a separate committee to reduce dependence on police department to enforce the Delhi excise law.

Singhal said that during the meeting the chief minister acknowledged the immediate need to address the four Es --(Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Environment) -- of road safety to prevent drunken driving and curb underage drinking.

CADD said it would meet the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab for lowering the legal drinking age to 21 and the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry to raise the drinking age to 21 years from 18 years.

Pitcher of proposals

- The Delhi government is mulling to reduce the drinking age from 25 to 21

- No immediate plan for implementation of the proposal

- CADD report to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says making 21 years as standard age of consumption of alcohol would make enforcement, monitoring, awareness and prevention of underage drink driving easier

- Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra had come out in support of reduction of age limit

- CADD suggests a separate committee to reduce dependence on police department to enforce the Delhi Excise Law

- CADD said it would meet CMs of various states seeking lowering of drinking age