India’s Supreme Court Questions Alcohol Sold in Tetra Packs

India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the central government and several state excise departments to respond to a petition seeking a ban on alcohol sold in Tetra Packs and sachets, saying the packaging could mislead consumers and make drinking easier for minors.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices after hearing a petition filed by Community Against Drunken Driving, a nonprofit group that is asking for a uniform national policy on alcohol packaging. The court said the format was “very deceptive,” according to the proceedings.

The petition argues that liquor sold in cartons and sachets can resemble fruit juice or other nonalcoholic drinks, especially when labels use images of fruit or flavors such as chilli mango vodka. The group said many of these products do not carry warnings that are as prominent as those required on tobacco products.

The plea asks the court to direct the central government to define “bottling” more narrowly, limiting it to glass bottles or other containers that are clearly distinguishable from ordinary beverage packaging. It also seeks rules that would apply across states and Union Territories, rather than leaving packaging standards to local excise authorities.

The petition says the packaging makes alcohol easier to hide, carry and transport, which it argues increases the risk of underage drinking, drinking in vehicles, smuggling across state borders and environmental harm. It also says the design encourages public drinking and drunk driving because the products can be mistaken for soft drinks or juice.

During the hearing, advocate Vipin Nair, appearing for the petitioners, told the court that unlike tobacco products, these alcohol packs often do not carry strong warning labels. He said some cartons look like fruit juice containers even though they contain vodka.

The issue has already drawn judicial attention. In November 2025, the Supreme Court criticized the growing sale of liquor in Tetra Packs during a trademark dispute between two whisky brands, noting then that the packaging closely resembled fruit juice cartons.

The latest petition could have broader implications for India’s alcohol industry if it leads to a national standard for packaging. That could affect not only vodka but also wine, beer and other alcoholic drinks sold in cartons or sachets, along with labeling rules and compliance costs for producers and distributors.