India has finally come of age and finally abolished a 93-year-old law banning women from tendering bars and entertaining guests.

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday annulled the 1914 statute, giving women the equal opportunity to enter bartending, one of the more lucrative jobs in the India's thriving economy.

The justices ruled as unconstitutional the state laws prohibiting female employees in alcohol-serving bars and restaurants.

They also lowered the age for bartenders to 21 from 25.

A bartender can earn more $1,000 a month, three times the salary of a regular office worker or a waitress in a posh restaurant.

Before the ruling, all of India's 29 states restrict women working behind the bar. However, this rule has largely been ignored. No penalties are meted on violators.

There are other rules that literally restrict socializing in India.

In Mumbai, India's entertainment capital, ladies cannot work in bars past 8:30 p.m.

Bars in Chennai and Bangalore are also supposed, but often do not, to close by 11 and 11:30 p.m.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association for western India may appeal the relaxation of the 8:30 p.m. rule to fully liberalize the night life in Mumbai.

Notably, the Supreme Court ruling allowing female bartenders has no effect on other state laws on the sale of alcohol.