India’s Supreme Court Moves Toward Ban on Alcohol in Juice-Like Packs

India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday moved toward a possible nationwide ban on the sale of alcohol in packaging that can be mistaken for fruit juice, issuing notice to the central government and state excise departments after a public interest petition argued that tetra packs and sachets are being used to disguise liquor products.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the packaging was “very deceptive” after hearing arguments that some alcoholic drinks are sold in cartons and pouches that closely resemble juice containers and do not carry warnings as prominent as those required on tobacco products. The court did not rule on the merits of the case but asked the government and state authorities to respond.

The petition was filed by Community Against Drunken Driving, which says the practice makes it harder for consumers, especially minors, to tell alcohol apart from ordinary beverages. The group argues that the packaging encourages public drinking, makes drunk driving more likely and can help liquor move more easily across state borders. It also says the containers can be used to conceal alcohol in places where bottles would draw attention.

According to the plea, some products use images of apples, mangoes and other fruit on cartons that look similar to juice packs, while still containing vodka or other spirits. The petitioner has asked the Union government to create a uniform national policy banning alcohol sales in inconspicuous packaging and to limit bottling to glass bottles or other containers that are clearly identifiable as alcoholic drinks.

The issue has drawn attention before. In November 2025, the Supreme Court raised concerns about liquor sold in tetra packs during a trademark dispute between two whisky makers, noting then that the packaging resembled fruit juice cartons.

The case could have broader implications for India’s alcohol industry if the court or regulators decide that packaging rules should be tightened. That would affect producers that use lighter, cheaper formats for distribution and could force changes in labeling, marketing and retail channels across states.