18-year-olds from Maharashtra, who would want to swig beer, vodka, whisky or rum better rush to neighbouring Goa, or Karnataka, or to distant Kerala or Uttar Pradesh. For the Maharashtra government has just made consumption and purchase of alcohol illegal for those below 25 years. Until now, it was perfectly legal to do that if you were 21 and above.

The saving grace: Wine is exempted because it assumably contains a "very small" quantity of alcohol, and under the new policy you can buy and consume beer in the state if you are 21, up from 18 years before.

For the record, while states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and West Bengal allow their denizens to consume and buy alcohol after they turn 21 Maharashtra will be joining Haryana and Meghalaya in increasing the minimum age limit to 25.

Gujarat and Mizoram, as we all know, has imposed prohibition and so sale and consumption of alcohol is illegal here.

Interestingly, Maharashtra is acting more prudish than Pakistan where non-Muslims can purchase and consume alcohol once they turn 21. With the latest ruling Maharashtra would have surpassed the age limit restrictions list not only in India but throughout the world.

The avowed intention behind this ruling approved by the state cabinet is to strike a balance between revenue collection from sale of alcohol and social justice department's aim of discouraging consumption of alcohol by Maharashtra natives.

While the cabinet itself is divided over the issue, civil society too is strongly debating if the decision is right or wrong. If you want to join in the debate the message board below is all yours.

For those who want to check out for themselves before jumping in the fray, click NEXT to find out how countries all over the world are trying to discourage their citizens, by imposing age restrictions, from purchase and consumption of alcohol.