Overview
- A recent multi-institution study of 4,093 Bengaluru students found 33% reported alcohol use and nearly 18% reported tobacco use, with a median initiation age of 17 and some respondents saying they began as young as eight.
- The state home minister directed senior police on Monday to issue notices to pubs, bars, restaurants and other liquor-serving venues to stop underage entry and to verify age before entry or service.
- On Tuesday the Director General of Police issued a circular that names acceptable IDs (Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, driving licence, PAN), requires entry CCTV and one-month footage retention, allows retention of ID copies, and warns of licence suspension or criminal action for violations.
- Police units have been ordered to work with schools, parents and resident groups, run awareness campaigns, carry out regular inspections, and file reports on violations and enforcement within a set time frame.
- Karnataka keeps the legal drinking age at 21 and officials cite the study’s rates as well above state and national averages which could prompt sustained checks that change how venues screen customers and operate at night.