GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court of India has agreed to consider a plea seeking mandatory biometric age verification at liquor outlets, bars, and pubs nationwide.
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In response to rising concerns over fatal accidents caused by drunk minor drivers, the plea was filed by the NGO Community Against Drunken Driving, aiming to prevent underage drinking and the resulting tragedies on India’s roads.
A bench led by Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan requested a response from the Union Government on this petition. Representing the NGO, senior advocate P.B. Suresh and advocate Vipin Nair took to stress the need for age verification by highlighting the recent tragedy in Mumbai where a drunk 17-year-old driving a Porsche killed two people.
To combat such incidents, Suresh argued for implementing a nationwide protocol requiring biometric verification at alcohol sales points, which would cross-check the buyer’s age against government-issued ID records. This would create a stronger safeguard against minors obtaining alcohol and potentially causing accidents or engaging in other forms of criminal behaviour.
The petition also points to research, citing a World Health Organization (WHO) study, which indicated that early alcohol exposure increases the likelihood of violent offenses such as robbery, sexual assault, and homicide.
Noting that India’s per capita alcohol consumption grew by 38% between 2010 and 2017 and increased by a further 21% during the pandemic, the situation has potentially led to thousands of additional cases of liver disease, liver failure, and cancer by 2040.
The plea further points to a lack of consistency in India’s legal drinking age, which varies by state. While Goa permits drinking at 18, Delhi’s minimum age is 25. This disparity reflects the absence of a unified approach to underage drinking laws.
The Supreme Court will next hear the government’s position on the matter.