Delhi public drinking fine Rs5000, not Rs50000, clarifies Walia

The Delhi government gave tipplers the DTs on Monday when state finance minister A K Walia said he is bringing in a bill that would provide for a hefty fine of Rs50,000 and a non-bailable jail term for consuming alcohol at a public place.

The move seems mainly designed to deter drinking outside shopping malls, after the government last week permitted them to sell liquor. The rule, part of government's new excise bill, will be introduced in the winter session of the Delhi Assembly, Walia said.

Later in the evening, however, Walia seemed to climb down, saying the fine of Rs50,000 would apply only to those publicly serving liquor to a gathering at an unlicensed premises. Otherwise, public drinking, as in a car or train, would attract a fine of Rs5,000 – which is still well above the current Rs200. Walia added that when public drinking is joined with creating public nuisance, the fine would be Rs10,000 and a possible three-month imprisonment.