A recent survey by leading NGO Community against Drunk Driving (CADD) in collaboration with the Delhi Police and National Crime Records Bureau reveals that under-age drinking has gone up by 22.5 percent since 2012 in the age group of 18-25 years.
The survey comes at a time when the Delhi government is mulling to reduce the drinking age from 25 to 21.
According to survey 89.8 percent of boys and 64.6 of girls do consumed alcohol before they turned 18 in Delhi.
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 reminding one is allowed to drive and vote at 18 years and marry at 21.
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.
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.
CADD said it would meet 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.