Delhi may be infamous for its drunkenness, but when it comes to hitting the bottle at an early age, Mumbaikars win hands down.

A survey conducted by Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD), a non-governmental organisation, on 'current patterns of drinking amongst youth in Mumbai' has revealed that alcohol consumption in the 14-16 years age group is higher in Mumbai at 18.9% compared to 15.9% in Delhi.

The survey cites easy availability of alcohol and lack of any checks at the point of sale as reasons for teenagers in the 'maximum city' guzzling more booze.

But while minors in Mumbai drink more, their counterparts in Delhi score when it comes to frequenting pubs despite the legal drinking age in the capital being 25 years, the highest in the country.

Nearly 80% of those who frequent pubs and bars in Delhi are youngsters below the age of 25, including 67% below the age of 21.

In Mumbai, nearly 62% of patrons at pubs and bars are below 21, the legal drinking age in Maharashtra, with 31.8% being less than 18.

The survey points out that the underage occupancy rate in both the cities would have been equal if 25 years had been the legal drinking age in Mumbai too.

In both metros, 14- and 15-year-olds are drinking liquor, which is hardly surprising given that nearly 43.9% of respondents below the age of 16 and 38% of those below the age of 18 linked alcohol with glamour.

The survey states that none of the respondents in the survey had ever been checked for proof of age at any liquor vend, bar, or pub and the average age at which people in Mumbai begin drinking is 15 years.

In a scathing indictment of the law-enforcement agencies, the survey states: "There is no evident structure of implementation of underage drinking laws by the police or the excise department in Mumbai."

Overall, alcohol consumption in Mumbai has increased 110% in the past nine years. Youth contribute to nearly 60% of this increase.

Thousand youth in each metro were surveyed between November 2008 and January 2009.

Puneet Nicholas Yadav/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication