The Supreme Court of India has sought responses from the Centre and other authorities on a petition demanding a ban on the sale of alcohol in tetra packs and sachets across the country.
The matter was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi.
Petition raises concern over packaging
The petition was filed by the organisation Community Against Drunken Driving, which argued that alcohol packaging in tetra packs and sachets can mislead consumers and increase accessibility.
Advocate Vipin Nair, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that the current definition of “bottle” under excise laws remains vague and lacks proper standardisation.
According to the petitioner, certain alcohol products use fruit imagery and packaging designs resembling juice cartons, potentially causing confusion among consumers.
“They are confusing fruit juice with liquor. They use photo of apple and the pack contains vodka,” the counsel reportedly argued before the court.
Demand for uniform national policy
The plea has sought directions to the Centre to formulate a uniform national policy applicable to all states and Union Territories regarding alcohol packaging.
It has also requested amendments to state excise laws to adopt a standard definition of “bottling,” restricting alcohol sales to clearly distinguishable containers such as glass bottles or other visibly identifiable packaging.
Public health concerns highlighted
The petitioner argued that the State has a responsibility to protect public health and prevent misleading presentation of alcoholic beverages.
The issue has sparked wider debate around alcohol regulation, consumer awareness, and packaging practices, especially as tetra packs and small sachets have become increasingly common in parts of India.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter further after receiving responses from the concerned authorities.