BENGALURU, June 9 -- 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, with a sample size comprising 4,093 students from higher secondary classes, pre-university courses and undergraduate colleges in Bengaluru . The study found that one in three adolescents faced a risk of health problems associated with alcohol or tobacco use.

Among those surveyed...