Delhi excise department seeks change in Metro’s ‘2 bottles allowed’ liquor rule
Delhi Metro's recent decision to allow two sealed liquor bottles per person raises concerns from the excise department, citing potential violations of the law and underage drinking risks
In a recent move, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) decided to allow passengers to carry two sealed bottles of liquor on their trains. This decision, however, has raised concerns from the Delhi government’s Excise department, which claims it goes against existing laws.
According to the Excise Act, a person can only carry one sealed bottle of liquor, such as rum, vodka, or whisky, from one state to another. The DMRC’s decision to permit two bottles on their trains may breach this law, especially since the Metro connects Delhi to neighbouring cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad.
Another issue highlighted by the Excise department is the varying legal age for purchasing liquor. In Delhi, liquor cannot be sold to anyone below 25 years old, while in nearby cities like Gurugram, the legal age is 18. This means that allowing passengers to carry two bottles might enable underage individuals to bring alcohol from other places and consume it in Delhi.
In response to these concerns, the Excise department has sent a notice to the DMRC, requesting them to change the rule to only allow one bottle of liquor per person. This adjustment would align with the provisions of the Excise Act and avoid any potential violations during cross-border transit between Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
The DMRC clarified that their decision on what items are permitted on the Metro is determined by the security agency responsible for handling such matters. They urge passengers to comply with the rules set by the relevant state excise department when carrying alcohol during cross-border travel.
The decision to allow two bottles of alcohol was proposed by a committee comprising representatives from DMRC and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which oversees security at Metro stations. The committee likely considered various factors before recommending this relaxation.
“Passengers are expected to follow extant rules and regulations of the concerned state excise department with regard to carrying liquor during cross-border transit,” the DMRC said.
