The age limit for buying liquor in Karnataka will remain 21 years, the state government has withdrawn its proposal

The Karnataka government had tried to change the age limit for buying and selling liquor. After protests, this decision has been withdrawn. Now the minimum age for buying and selling liquor should be 21 years. The Karnataka government had proposed to reduce the age of drinking, buying and selling liquor from 21 to 18 years. However, after strong protests, the Karnataka government was forced to withdraw its proposal and decision.

The Karnataka Excise Department has cited objections raised by the public, associations and the media to withdraw its decision. The proposal to reduce the age was put in the public domain for 30 days to know the opinion of the people. The Basavaraj Bommai government immediately withdrew the said proposal due to the growing opposition of the people in the state. The lowering of the age was recommended by a high-powered committee headed by retired bureaucrat V Yashwant to eliminate unnecessary aspects in the excise law and rules.

The current Bommai government has given a target of Rs 29,000 crore to the excise department for the financial year 2022-23. The department is expected to reach the Rs 30,000-crore mark by the end of March-23, despite a drop in sales during Christmas and New Year.