NEW DELHI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Delhi government of India has decided to retain the minimum age for drinking in the Indian capital city at 25 years old, according to NDTV Tuesday.

    There has been widespread speculation that it might be lowered to 21 years old. However, realizing that the issue could snowball into a major controversy in this year's elections to the Delhi Assembly, the government decided against lowering the age.

    However, the government allowed women bartenders to serve liquor commercially at 25.

    The decision came despite a Supreme Court order last December that said the minimum age for bartending would be 21.