New Delhi, Nov 11: A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan sought a response from the Centre on a petition seeking direction for an effective protocol and robust policy for the enforcement of mandatory age checks at liquor sales points.
The plea said that the excise policy of different states has age legislation making it illegal to consume or possess alcohol below a certain age but a robust mechanism to check the age of consumers or buyers at alcohol points of sale or consumption is absent.
The counsel appearing for petitioner NGO ‘Community Against Drunken Driving’ argued that there was no regime in place to check the age of consumers or buyers at liquor vends, bars, pubs, etc, so a robust policy in this regard would help in reducing and preventing the menace of drunken driving and also in curbing underage consumption of alcohol.
The petitioner has suggested that any person selling, serving or providing alcohol to minors should be fined Rs 50,000 or three months in jail or both & has arrayed the Centre, all states and Union Territories as party respondents.
The bench issued notice, restricted to respondent number one (Union of India) and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.
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