India's state home minister, Priyank Kharge, has directed senior police officers to issue notices to establishments serving liquor across the state to verify customers' ages and deny entry to patrons under the legal drinking age of 21.
The order applies to pubs, breweries, bars, lounges, restaurants, clubs, and other licensed venues.
The move follows a study by researchers from St John's Medical College, Christ University, and Kasturba Medical College, which found that one in three adolescents faced a risk of health problems associated with alcohol or tobacco use.
The study, which surveyed 4,093 students from higher secondary classes, pre-university courses, and undergraduate colleges in Bengaluru, reported that 33% of participants consumed alcohol and nearly 18% were addicted to tobacco.
The median age at which adolescents in Bengaluru began drinking alcohol was 17, while some participants said they had started as young as eight.
Establishments must verify government-issued identification before permitting entry or serving alcohol, and venue operators and event organisers will be held responsible for violations.
Authorities have instructed establishments to maintain functioning CCTV systems at entrances and preserve footage for a defined period to assist investigations and compliance checks.
Police have also been asked to work with educational institutions, parents, resident welfare associations, and community groups to limit young people's exposure to alcohol, tobacco, and narcotic substances.
