Thelegal drinking age inIndia and the laws which regulate the sale and consumption ofalcohol vary significantly fromstate to state.[1] In India, consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states ofBihar,Gujarat,Nagaland,[2] andMizoram, as well as theunion territory ofLakshadweep. There is partial ban on alcohol in some districts ofManipur.[3] All other Indian states permit alcohol consumption but fix a legal drinking age, which ranges at different ages per region. In some states the legal drinking age can be different for different types of alcoholic beverage.
In spite of legal restrictions, alcohol consumption in India has risen over 55% over a period of 20 years (according toOECD figures) as the laws are generally not followed in a customer business relationship.[4][5] The maximum permitted ABV is 45.5%.[6]
The Prohibition on Alcohol was first initiated in 1954 byMorarji Desai who wasChief Minister ofBombay Province. The Prohibition was imposed on theKoli people who were traditional distillers of alcohol or wine inMaharashtra mostly inDharavi. Kolis ofBombay distilled the alcohol byJamun,Guava,Orange,Apple andChikoo. In 1954, Morarji Desai imposed the Prohibition on liquor but there were strong protests by the Kolicommunity. Koli's alleged theDesai that 'This is not a Daru-Bandi, This is Desh-Bandi', due to the Desai administration's allowance on the selling foreign alcohol in the state and prohibitions on homemade liquor.[7][8] before the prohibition on alcohol, Kolis of Dharavi manufactured the alcohol legally and when prohibition enacted, commercial alcohol production ceased and Kolis had a virtual monopoly in this area.[9]
Alcohol is a subject in theState List under the Seventh Schedule of theConstitution of India.[10][11][12] Therefore, the laws governing alcohol vary from state to state.
Liquor in India is generally sold at liquor stores, restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, clubs and discos but not online. Some states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, prohibit private parties from owning liquor stores making the state government the sole retailer of alcohol in those states. In some states, liquor may be sold at groceries, departmental stores, banquet halls and/or farm houses. Some tourist areas have special laws allowing the sale of alcohol on beaches and houseboats.[citation needed]
Home delivery of alcoholic beverages is illegal in Delhi.[13] However, in Delhi home delivery of beer and wine by private vendors and departmental stores is permitted.[citation needed]
In January 2025, theGovernment of Madhya Pradesh implemented a ban on the sale of liquor in 17 religious towns across the state, includingUjjain,Orchha, Salkanpur,Chitrakoot,Omkareshwar,Maheshwar,Maihar,Amarkantak, and thePashupatinath temple area inMandsaur.[14][15]
| State/UT | Drinking Age | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 21[16] | |
| Andhra Pradesh | 21[16] | |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 21[16] | |
| Assam | 21[16] | |
| Bihar | Illegal | Total ban on all alcohol since 4 April 2016[17] |
| Chandigarh | 25[18] | |
| Chhattisgarh | 21[16] | |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 21[19] | |
| Delhi | 25[21] | |
| Goa | 18[22] | |
| Gujarat | Illegal | Non-Residents of Gujarat can apply for limited Liquor Permits.Banned since 1960.[23] |
| Haryana | 21[16] | The Punjab Excise Act, which also extends to Haryana, prohibits establishments from employing "women in any part of such premises in which such liquor or intoxicating drug is consumed by the public".[24] Section 30 of the Punjab Excise Act has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of India on 12 December 2007, which was responsible for not allowing women to work in such premises.[25] |
| Himachal Pradesh | 18[26] | |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 21[27][28] | |
| Jharkhand | 21[16][29][30] | |
| Karnataka | 18* | Arrack has been banned in Karnataka since 1 July 2007.[31][32] The Karanataka Excise Department, 1967, stipulate thatdrinking age is 21. However, the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, states 18 as the minimum age topurchase alcohol. The law is ambiguous and in practise many bars serve those above age 18 though a few bars refuse service to anyone below 21.[33][34] |
| Kerala | 23[35] | Kerala government has planned to implement prohibition of hard liquor in 10 years.[36][3] However the subsequent government has not confirmed proceeding with the prohibition and has reversed the restriction of hard liquor to only five star hotels. |
| Ladakh | 18[27][28] | |
| Lakshadweep | Illegal[16] | Consumption is legal only on the resort island ofBangaram.[37] |
| Madhya Pradesh | 21[38] | |
| Maharashtra | 25[39] | In Maharashtra, a liquor licence obtained from a Government Civil Hospital is required to drink, although this is largely not enforced. Additionally, state legislature empowers district governments to ban alcohol entirely. As a result, two districts,Wardha andGadchiroli have imposed a total ban on the production and sale of alcohol. |
| Manipur | 21[16] | Partial prohibition since 2002, prohibited in the districts ofBishnupur,Imphal East,Imphal West andThoubal[40] |
| Meghalaya | 21[41] | |
| Mizoram | Illegal[42] | Banned since 2019[43] |
| Nagaland | Illegal[2] | Sale and consumption illegal since 1989.[44] |
| Odisha | 21[45] | |
| Puducherry | 18[16] | |
| Punjab | 25[46] | The Punjab Excise Act prohibits establishments from employing "women in any part of such premises in which such liquor or intoxicating drug is consumed by the public".[24] Section 30 of the Punjab Excise Act has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of India on 12 December 2007, which was responsible for not allowing women to work in such premises.[25] |
| Rajasthan | 18[47] | |
| Sikkim | 18[48] | |
| Tamil Nadu | 21 | |
| Telangana | 21[16] | |
| Tripura | 21[49] | |
| Uttar Pradesh | 21[50] | Section 22[50] |
| Uttarakhand | 21[16] | |
| West Bengal | 21[51] |
Theblood alcohol content (BAC) legal limit is 0.03%[52] or 30 mg alcohol in 100 ml blood.[53]
On 1 March 2012, the Union Cabinet approved proposed changes to the Motor Vehicle Act. Higher penalties were introduced, including fines from₹2,000 (equivalent to₹3,800 or US$45 in 2023) to₹10,000 (equivalent to₹19,000 or US$220 in 2023) and imprisonment from 6 months to 4 years. Different penalties are assessed depending on the blood alcohol content at the time of the offence.[54]
Dry days are specific days when the sale of alcohol is not allowed. Most of the Indian states observe these days on major national festivals/occasions such asRepublic Day (26 January),Independence Day (15 August) andGandhi Jayanti (2 October).[55] Dry days are also observed duringelections in India.[56][57]
No dry day rule is applicable for 5-star hotels, clubs and resorts in West Bengal. Drinks may be served and consumed in those places in West Bengal even on dry days. Private consumption too is allowed on dry days. Only the open sale of liquor at restaurants, liquor shops and other permitted places is disallowed on those days.
Prohibited days are also announced when elections are held in the state.[58][59] ForLok Sabha orVidhan Sabha elections, Prohibited days are declared for 48 hours prior to the close of voting, plus during the counting day(s). ForMunicipality,Panchayat,Municipal Corporation, orDarjeeling Gorkha Hill Council elections, Prohibited days occur on the polling day, the previous day and the counting day(s).[60]
Retail shops are closed on every month on the 7th, which is the pay day / salary day in thisunion territory, and on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of every month. Plus, a maximum of two fulls or four beers are permitted per person for sale in retail shops.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26 | Republic Day |
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
Every excise year, theGovernment of Delhi, notifies the number of Prohibited days in a year. The three national holidays—26 January 2 October and 15 August, are always prohibited days, and additional prohibited days are announced at the start of the excise year (1 July).[61]
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26 | Republic Day |
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| March | 4 | Maha Shivratri |
| April | Ram Navami† | |
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| Krishna Janmashtami† | ||
| September | ||
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
| November | Guru Nanak Jayanti |
†Festival date may be in either month.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| March | 4 | Maha Shivratri |
| June | 4–5 | Eid-Ul-Fitr |
| August | 11 | Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) |
| 15 | Independence Day | |
| Krishna Janmashtami† | ||
| September | ||
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
| November | 9–10 | Eid-Ul-Milad |
†Festival date may be in either month.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
Sundays are no longer observed as Prohibited days in the state.[62][56]
1st Day of English Calendar Every month for administrative purposes and on the grounds that it is the salary day. Dry days are observed on the day of polling and the previous day during elections as well.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | New Year Day |
| 26 | Republic Day | |
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti† | ||
| September | ||
| 21 | Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi | |
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
†Date may be in either month.
Thedistrict collector can also designate any day as a Prohibited day by giving seven days' notice.[63] his list may vary depending on the date of festivals as well as specific Prohibited day announcements by theGovernment of Maharashtra.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26 | Republic Day |
| 30 | Martyrs' Day | |
| May | 1 | Maharashtra Day |
| June | Ashadi Ekadashi† | |
| July | ||
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| September | Anant Chaturdashi | |
| October | 2-9 | Gandhi Week |
| November | Kartiki Ekadashi |
†Festival date may be in either month.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26 | Republic Day |
| 30 | Martyrs' Day | |
| February | Maha Shivaratri | |
| March | 30 | Rajasthan Formation Day |
| Mahavir Janma Kalyanak† | ||
| April | ||
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
| 30 | Harijan Day |
†Festival date may be in either month.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15 | Thiruvalluvar Day† |
| 16 | ||
| 26 | Republic Day | |
| Vadalur Ramalinga Adikalar Jothi† | ||
| February | ||
| Maha Shivaratri | ||
| March | Mahavir Janma Kalyanak† | |
| April | ||
| Prophet Mohamad's Birthday (Nabigal Nayagam) | ||
| May | 1 | May Day |
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
| December | Eid al-Mawlid (Milad-un-Nabi) |
†Leap year (will vary based on Tamil calendar)†Festival date may be in either month.
| Month | Date | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26 | Republic Day |
| February/March | Holi† | |
| August | 15 | Independence Day |
| June/July/August | Muharram† | |
| October | 2 | Gandhi Jayanti |
†Festival date may be in either month.
Indian drinks | |
|---|---|
| Tea | |
| Alcoholic | |
| Africa | |
|---|---|
| Asia | |
| Europe | |
| North America | |
| South America | |
| Oceania | |
