Lying for a Drink?

It could be Delhi’s best kept secret: That you have to be 25 to walk into a pub and order a beer. Spring it on a group of young managem...

It could be Delhi’s best kept secret: That you have to be 25 to walk into a pub and order a beer.

Spring it on a group of young management students, all between 21 and 25, letting down their hair at a ‘drinks party’ at a friend’s barsati after completing their exams. Do they know the legal age for drinking in the Capital? ‘‘Yes,’’ comes the collective, confident reply. ‘‘It is 21 years,’’ says Anant Suthoo, who stands tall at 21. ‘‘No, 25,’’ he says hurriedly. ‘‘21… 25,’’ come the other replies.

They wait somewhat confusedly for the right answer and, on getting it, are half-surprised, half-amused. ‘‘I’ve always known that it was 25 years,’’ says Kavir Advani who hosts the party. ‘‘I’ve been stopped so many times at discos, even for entry,’’ he explains.

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This, however, does not seem to be a hurdle for the group. ‘‘It’s no big deal,’’ chips in Siddharth Bhasin. ‘‘Depending on whether you know the right person, or even the company you are with, you can get in.’’

Wonder at the usefulness of the law and the foursome launch a full attack on it. ‘‘It’s ridiculous,’’ they shout almost in unison. ‘‘If men can get married at the age of 21…’’ says Gaurav Prakash rolling his eyes. ‘‘I can choose my government at the age of 18…’’ adds Siddharth.

Questioning the very basis of the law — the principle of a dry state — Anant says that the law should not impose prohibition on people. ‘‘People who are 50 lack control and get drunk,’’ points out Kavir, adding another layer to the argument. ‘‘Is it okay when they go out and have accidents? Is that responsible behaviour?’’

The onus has to be on the individual, believe the four. ‘‘As long as you can take care of yourself, it doesn’t matter (what you do). When you go out and know there will be drinking, make sure you have a designated driver, a friend who will abstain from alcohol and drive everyone back home. In a group, everyone can take turns at not drinking at parties,’’ enlightens Siddharth.

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For an ‘underaged’ lot, this group seems particularly responsible: They have advice even for those who are yet to find their drinking pals. ‘‘Start counting your drinks when you know you have to drive back,’’ they say. ‘‘I generally don’t drink when I know I am the one driving. Maybe one drink, but I’m very careful about such things,’’ says Anant. ‘‘Remember that handwriting ad, where the guy writes that he can drive after drinking… and then by the fifth drink, his writing is just a scrawl. It made me think about the safety of drinking and driving.’’

But the foursome are quick to emphasise that though they do not visit pubs because of the expense factor, their drinking code is not the result of any government effort. ‘‘I haven’t seen anything other than the rare ‘don’t drink and drive’ sign on the highway,’’ says Siddharth.

Their sense of responsibility is something that they have grown up with, so much so they see no reason to keep their occasional tipple a secret from their parents. ‘‘Young people are very responsible these days,’’ says Gaurav. That sense overlaps with chivalry. ‘‘When we have to go and drop off a girl after a party, we stay away from drinks,’’ says Siddharth.

What if the drinking age is dropped — wouldn’t that encourage younger people to sample, and possibly get hooked to, alcohol? The four friends rubbish the idea. ‘‘If the government reduces the drinking age to 18, it is not as if more people will become alcoholics,’’ says Kavir.

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Responsibility, they say, is a sense that is individual-dependent, it cannot be imposed. It’s an idea that arouses heated debate… maybe over a mug of chilled beer?