Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre on Mandatory Age Verification at Liquor Outlets
Varahi media.com online news, November 12th,2024: On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the government, requesting a response to a petition that
Varahi media.com online news, November 12th,2024: On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the government, requesting a response to a petition that sought the court’s intervention to enforce mandatory age verification at liquor shops and bars.
The petition highlighted numerous instances of minors being involved in drink-driving incidents across the country. Filed by the Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) called for a strong policy to establish a mandatory age verification system at all points of alcohol sale.
The PIL suggested that photo identification cards of buyers appearing under the age of 25 should be checked, as the legal drinking age in several states and Union Territories ranges from 18 to 25 years. The petition also recommended imposing a fine of ₹10,000 on underage customers.
The petition further opposed the doorstep delivery of alcohol, arguing that it would encourage alcohol consumption among minors. It proposed that any violations by alcohol sellers should be treated as breaches of licensing regulations, with penalties of up to ₹50,000.
Pointing out the lack of a legal framework to verify the age of alcohol buyers, the petition argued that this gap contributes to fatal accidents involving minors driving under the influence.
Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan, who led the bench, initially expressed concerns about the limited options available to the court. Justice Gavai questioned, “What can we do? Instead of going directly to buy, they can send their servants to buy.”
However, when the petitioner’s counsel cited strict regulations implemented in other countries and proposed feasible actions, the bench decided to issue a notice to the government for a response.
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