New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India issued notices to the Centre and state governments on Wednesday following a Public Interest Litigation that seeks an immediate nationwide ban on the sale of alcohol in portable packaging formats such as tetra packs and sachets. The petition, filed by the non-profit organization Community Against Drunken Driving, alleges that these compact, deceptive designs closely resemble ordinary fruit juices, significantly increasing the risks of underage drinking, public consumption, and drunk driving across the country.
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, characterized the marketing strategy as highly deceptive. The apex court had previously voiced deep apprehensions in November last year regarding the proliferation of such packaging, criticizing state administrations for prioritizing excise revenues over public health safety. The Bench reiterated that paperboard cartons provide effortless access to alcohol for school-going children and can easily go unnoticed by parents due to their harmless appearance.
Advocate Vipin Nair, representing the petitioner, argued before the court that while the tobacco industry is legally bound to display graphic health warnings, the alcoholic beverage sector faces no such stringent mandates on these portable formats. He pointed out that several brands market products under labels like “Bunty Premium Vodka,” “Chelli Mango Vodka,” and “Premium Romanov Vodka – Apple Thrill,” utilizing prominent illustrations of mangoes and apples on the exterior to cloak the high-alcohol content within. Nair added that the definition of a “bottle” remains deliberately vague under various state excise regimes, making statutory standardization necessary to stop manufacturer manipulation.
The petitioner is seeking a directives mandating the Union Government to establish a uniform national policy that restricts the definition of alcohol bottling strictly to glass containers or highly distinct, transparent receptacles. The organization stated that the rise of pocket-sized sachets and cartons allows individuals to easily conceal and consume liquor in restricted public environments, including educational institutions, cinema halls, municipal parks, and moving vehicles. The plea emphasizes that under Article 47 of the Constitution, the State is duty-bound to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living, and to bring about the prohibition of intoxicating drinks that are injurious to health.
