Legality of alcohol consumption in India (2020)

Milhaud 2023-09-20
Legality of alcohol consumption in India (2020)

This map, created by Ashris, shows the legality of alcohol in different states of India. India is one of the few countries in the world that has a mixed system in which internal administrations, in this case its states, have opted for completely different laws.

The different colours show the ages at which alcohol consumption is legal in each state:

  • In green, legal from the age of 18.
  • In yellow, legal from the age of 21.
  • In orange, legal from the age of 23.
  • In red, legal from the age of 25.
  • In black, alcohol consumption is illegal.

Four states have completely banned alcohol consumption: Gujarat, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Bihar. Despite what it may seem, religion does not play a fundamental role in this ban, as none of the four states has an Islamic majority. Nagaland and Mizoram are two states with a Christian majority, while Gujarat and Bihar are states with a Hindu majority.

Legislation against alcohol in these states is not limited solely to consumption. The most extreme case is that of Gujarat, the state in which Mumbai is located. There, the production and sale of domestically produced alcohol is punishable by death.

Sources

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