News Desk, AnyTV, Chandigarh
Published by: ajay kumar
Updated Mon, 21 Feb 2022 09:37 PM IST
Summary
Earlier, Section 29 of the Excise Act prohibited any person below the age of 25 to sell, distribute, sell liquor or drugs.
The legal drinking age in Haryana is now 21 years. Earlier it was 25 years. The amended Excise Act has come into force in the state from February 11, 2022. In December 2021, the state government amended the old law in the assembly. Which was approved by Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on 31 December 2021.
The government had amended a total of 4 sections of the Excise (Excise) Act, 1914 in the winter session of the Legislative Assembly. The government had proposed to increase the drinking age from 25 years to 21 years in the legal sections in the Excise Policy of 2021-22 itself, but legally it could be implemented only after a gazette notification after amendment.
Many states of the country including Delhi have already reduced the drinking age. Regarding the amendment, it has been argued that the current socio-economic conditions have changed significantly as compared to earlier. Advocate Hemant Kumar of Punjab and Haryana High Court informed that Haryana Excise Act, 1914 was in force till April 2021.
The government had amended the assembly and put the word Haryana in place of Punjab. After the latest amendment, now the youth of 21 years of age in the state will be able to get a license for the manufacture, wholesale or retail sale of country liquor or drugs along with drinking alcohol. Earlier, Section 29 of the Excise Act prohibited any person below the age of 25 to sell, distribute, sell liquor or drugs.
Before the amendment, Section 30 of the Excise Act provided that no person under the age of 25 years shall be employed by any person who holds a license to sell liquor or drugs for consumption on the premises. By amending this, the age of giving employment has been reduced to 21 years.
Section 62 provided that if any licensed seller, his employee or any person doing work sells and distributes liquor or drugs to any person below the age of 25 years, he shall, in addition to other penalty, be liable to fine of Rs 50,000. fine could be imposed. Now in this section also you can sell or distribute liquor or drugs till the age of 21 years.
Expansion
The legal drinking age in Haryana is now 21 years. Earlier it was 25 years. The amended Excise Act has come into force in the state from February 11, 2022. In December 2021, the state government amended the old law in the assembly. Which was approved by Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on 31 December 2021.
The government had amended a total of 4 sections of the Excise (Excise) Act, 1914 in the winter session of the Legislative Assembly. The government had proposed to increase the drinking age from 25 years to 21 years in the legal sections in the Excise Policy of 2021-22 itself, but legally it could be implemented only after a gazette notification after amendment.
Many states of the country including Delhi have already reduced the drinking age. Regarding the amendment, it has been argued that the current socio-economic conditions have changed significantly as compared to earlier. Advocate Hemant Kumar of Punjab and Haryana High Court informed that Haryana Excise Act, 1914 was in force till April 2021.