Maharashtra has raised the drinking age to 25 years at a time when voting and marriage are allowed at age 18. Young celebs and parents in the city speak their minds.
Shazahn Padamsee, actress: I am very upset and feel it is a ridiculous decision taken by the authorities. Basically it’s one’s family’s responsibility to ensure if their kid is over the drinking and driving age. If tomorrow they find that more cases of drunken driving are amongst the age group of 25 years and up, are they going to raise the age bar to 35 ? Such rules will just aggravate the problem.
Prachi Desai, actress: “Today India's population consists of more youth. We the young generation that has also started working so young, if we can partially be responsible for running the country then why not be allowed to drink at 25? Even though I am a teetotaler, I personally think if at 18 we are can choose the government of the country, get our driving licenses and are legally allowed to get married then why should we have to wait till 25 to drink responsibly? As long as we are responsible & have self control, I don’t think there should be a problem. If this law comes into practice, I would be quite curious to understand how the government is planning to implement this.”
Shraddha Kapoor, actress: Legal ages to be married/start a family, drive are 18/21 and these acts also require responsibility so I feel that the legal age to consume alcohol at 21 is a good enough age too considering that by then your education/parents make you well aware about the responsibilities of drinking.
Adhyayan Suman, actor: I feel one’s a grown person by the time one turns 21 and one is capable of making a lot of independent decisions in your life. Why be a hypocrite and make us vote at 18 then? 21 to 25 is the age where youngsters usually enjoy before getting into the serious phase of life. I feel this law will force youngsters to break the law and drink more at home.
Pooja Bedi, actress and parent: It is just absurd! Instead of making stringent punishments and sentencing laws for drunken driving cases, they have raised the age bar to 25 its ridiculous. These days youngsters in the age group of 21 years onwards not only work, earn and pay taxes but are also responsible citizens who cast their votes, however they are banned from drinking now. It’s weird how they come up with such silly rules.
Archana Puran Singh, actress and parent: As a parent, I wouldn’t want my children to drink at all, why just when he is 25 or 21? Having said that, At 21, if you can be married, can vote and can have a license and drive, I don’t understand how can you not let an individual decide if he/she wants to have a drink. I wouldn't stop my son from having a drink if he wants to have one before he turns 25. It is ridiculous and very impractical and doesn’t make sense to me.
