In Delhi, it is illegal to sell liquor to youngsters who are below 25 years of age. But a latest survey reveals that boys and girls in the age group of 18 to 25 years have had easy access to alcohol at liquor vends, bars, pubs and restaurants without even asking for ID card.

The deliberate bid to cock a snook at the law was evident as 97.3 per cent, of the 6,000 respondents, knew about the legal drinking age.

The survey conducted between June 1 to August 31, was to assess if the law (age cut off under the Excise Act) is implemented and if the age of buyers is checked at point of sale/service of alcohol - bars, pubs, restaurants, government liquor vends, private liquor vends, shops in malls and any other alcohol serving /selling outlet.

The survey was conducted by Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), a prominent NGO working in the field of drunken driving for the past 15 years, with the help of the Delhi Police.

Prince Singhal, founder of CADD and campaign initiator said, "The survey was conducted outside 50 prominent liquor vends, bars, restaurants, etc, wherein 6,000 respondents were surveyed in Delhi."

Of these, 3,976 were male and 2,024 were female respondents. They were all above the age of 18 years. 3,422 respondents were in the age group 18-25 years.

EASY ACCESS

"It was shocking to know that any person between the age of 18-25 years can buy alcohol without being checked for age," Singhal said.

Some of the major areas where survey was conducted are Hauz Khas Village, Rajouri Garden, DLF Mall Saket, Promenade, Ambience mall Vasant Kunj, CP, South Extension, Khan Market, SDA Market, Green Park, Ambience Mall, Pitampura, New Friends Colony, V3S Mall, EDM Mall, Star City Mall, Gymkhana Petrol Pump and others.

"It was found that none of the respondents (zero) were verbally informed about the legal drinking age. Those respondent who appeared to be below the age of 25 were also not questioned about their age and sale was carried out irrespective of it", said Singhal.

Another study conducted among people aged between 20 and 25 in Delhi has revealed that 89.8 per cent boys and 64.6 girls have consumed alcohol before they turned 18.

UNDERAGE DRINKING GOES UP

The survey found that underage drinking had gone up by 22.5 per cent since 2012 in the age group of 18-25 years.

It was also revealed that one out five respondents had alcohol by the age of 12, 75 per cent of them under the age of 25 have driven in drunken state.

"Checking the age proof at point of sale would help to curtail drunk driving and underage drinking to a large extent and would also add responsibility of liquor shop, bars and pubs in curbing this menace ," he said.

"Mandatory age check should be done with voter ID, Aadhaar card or a driving license or passport in case of foreign nationals", said Singhal.

"There should also be penalties up to Rs 1,00,000 for those serving to underage consumers and in case there is a drunk driving tragedy due to an underage person getting alcohol the license of these vendors and pubs should be cancelled" he added.