NEW DELHI: Deputy CM Manish Sisodia also thinks the minimum drinking age should be lowered from the present 25 years. On Friday, he endorsed tourism minister Kapil Mishra 's idea of lowering the bar to 21 years even as BJP attacked AAP for promoting something that could singe the social fabric.

Mishra had aired his view on Wednesday after which many AAP MLAs and functionaries welcomed it and stressed the need for a debate. For the conservative sections of the society and the saffron party, it was perhaps too revolutionary. BJP also saw in it a ploy to divert public attention from the AAP government's failure in delivering on the promises of free Wi-Fi and jobs.

"I don't know what kind of Delhi they want to make. Do they want to make it an alcoholic Delhi? If we reduce the drinking age, it will create a bad impact on society," Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said.

He also hit out at Kapil Mishra: "It is really pathetic to note that Mishra has proposed this when Delhi is fighting against dengue and price hike."

But Sisodia said alcohol consumption was a very personal issue. "BJP people commenting on it should look at the states that are ruled by their party," Sisodia said. But he clarified that "no such proposal is being considered by the government yet". "If there is a demand from Delhi's people, including youths, restaurant owners and tourism industry, government can think about it. This is no issue where we can say that 25 years should strictly be the age (for drinking)," the deputy CM said.

He added, "Keeping in mind children's health, there is a government policy in place. But if s/he should drink at 21 years or 25 isn't something the government should decide."

BJP's Shazia Ilmi, who had quit AAP after a stormy stint, jumped into the debate too. "I'm astounded that this party (AAP) has arisen from Anna Hazare's movement when Anna ji is completely against alcoholism," she said.

But Mishra quickly countered: "If BJP and Ilmi think that lowering of the age threatens our culture, then it should save the culture in Goa, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh; the responsibility of saving Delhi's culture rests with us."

Delhi is not the only state with 25 years as the legal drinking age; Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Meghalaya have the same age limit.

