NEWS
INDIA'S DELHI CITY GOVERNMENT CUT "DRY DAYS" FROM 21 TO JUST 3 IN 2022
By Susan Lewis
26-1-2022
Credit: Mohd Aram/Unsplash
Today is India’s Republic Day, the Delhi government announced yesterday that it will cut mandatory dry days in the capital city from 21 days last year to just three days — Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti – in 2022.
The order issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise) Anand Kumar Tiwari read: "In pursuance of the provisions of Rule 52 of Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, it is hereby ordered that the following dates shall be observed as “Dry Day” in the National Capital Territory of Delhi for the year 2022: Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Apart from the above three dry days, the Government may declare any other day in the year as Dry Day from time to time."
That means bars, pubs and liquor outlets in Delhi will have to stop selling alcohol only on Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) in 2022.
Dry days are specific days when the sale of alcohol is not permitted in India. Each state is empowered to declare specific days as dry days. Most dry days are on major national festivals and occasions such as Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October).
While not much is known about the logic behind dry days on other festivals, it is obvious for Gandhi Jayanti.
India’s national father, Mahatma Gandhi, objected to alcohol drinking and had advocated for national prohibition. In order to show respect to him, Gandhi Jayanti is a dry day. Incidentally, 2 October is recognised as World No Alcohol Day since 2008.
India is not the only country that has dry days. In Thailand, there are designated ‘National No Alcohol Days’ mostly on Buddhist holidays. Under Thai law, alcohol cannot be sold on these days and vendors caught breaking the ban are liable to prison sentence of up to six months and Baht 10,000 (USD303) fine.
In New Zealand, no alcohol is sold on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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