India is the world’s third-largest market for alcoholic beverages. One in seven Indians in the 10-75 age group use alcohol. Rapid urbanisation, rising income, easy availability, and changing attitudes towards alcohol and lifestyle are contributing to growing consumption in India.

Read below this article to learn about underage drinking punishment, drinking laws in India, and the legal drinking age in India.

Underage Drinking In India

In India, underage drinking is very common. Be it buying from shops or going to clubs and drinking, Underage people easily get access to fake IDs that, if not checked properly, will go unnoticed because it is a fake ID.

The legal drinking age in India varies between 18 and 25, depending on the state. Despite this legal drinking age, there is still a growing trend of drinking among teenagers. Teenagers can be easily influenced and can be vulnerable to alcohol. They might try it out because of peer pressure, social media influence, rebellion, etc.

Adolescence is a very delicate stage where children are very vulnerable and influenced easily. It is important to take strict measures to prevent underage drinking. Right-from-home parents have to teach their children about underage drinking and how to not get influenced easily into drinking.

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Drinking Laws In India

There are no stringent drinking laws in India that supervise the activity of youth or the consumption of alcohol by a minor. Section 77 of juvenile justice serves to punish the person who serves drugs, tobacco, or any intoxicating substance. Under Section 29, selling or serving drinks to minors or underage persons has to pay a fine of Rs 500. However, the rules are hardly abided by anyone. There is no supervision over the sale of alcohol.

Legal Drinking Age In India

State	Legal Drinking Age In India
Andhra Pradesh	21
Arunachal Pradesh	21
Assam	25
Bihar	Illegal
Chandigarh	25
Delhi	25
Goa	18
Gujarat	Illegal
Haryana	18
Himachal Pradesh	18
Jammu Kashmir	21
Jharkhand	21
Karnataka	21
Kerala	21
Maharashtra	25
Madhya Pradesh	18
Meghalaya	25
Mizoram	Illegal
Orissa	21
Puducherry	18
Punjab	25
Rajasthan	18
Sikkim	18
Tamil Nadu	21
Uttar Pradesh	18
Uttarakhand	21
West Bengal	21
Manipur	Illegal
Lakshadweep	Illegal
If you see any underage people buying or consuming alcohol, make sure to report it to the nearest police station. Penalties for underage drinking in India may include fines, community service, enrollment in alcohol education programmes, or even imprisonment in some cases. The exact penalty can depend on factors such as the age of the individual, the quantity of alcohol consumed, and whether the individual has committed similar offences in the past.

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Underage Drinking Punishment

Maharashtra:

• Legal drinking age: 25 years

• Penalties:

• First offence: Fine of ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months

• Repeat offence: Fine of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months

Karnataka:

• Legal drinking age: 21 years

• Penalties:

• First offence: Fine of ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months

• Repeat offence: Fine of ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months

Rajasthan:

• Legal drinking age: 21 years

• Penalties:

• First offence: Fine of ₹500 to ₹1,000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months

• Repeat offence: Fine of ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year

New Delhi:

• Legal drinking age: 25 years

• Penalties:

• A fine of ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months

Conclusion

In conclusion, we know that different states have different rules and restrictions imposed on alcohol consumption and purchase, be it the legal drinking age or flat-out barring it from even being sold. By keeping ourselves, teenagers, and people educated about the drinking laws in India, we can promote a safer environment where people deemed responsible are the ones consuming alcohol. This way they can be held accountable in the case of things going wrong, rather than create unnecessary controversy in the cases of drunk driving, taking away dire attention from the victims of said cases.

For more information on liquor consumption laws in India, you can visit here. Visit Jaagruk Bharat to stay updated about the latest laws and regulations and join our community if you have any queries.