Supreme Court Takes Up Case to Ban Alcohol in Tetra Packs: What’s at Stake?

Supreme Court Reviews Alcohol Packaging Concerns

In a significant move, the Supreme Court has requested responses from the central government and other parties regarding a petition aimed at prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages in tetra packs and sachets. This request was made during a session led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi.

The petition was brought forth by the organization 'Community Against Drunken Driving'. Advocate Vipin Nair, representing the petitioners, argued that the current definition of a bottle within the excise framework is unclear and requires standardization.

Nair highlighted concerns about misleading packaging, stating, "They are confusing fruit juice with liquor. They use a photo of an apple, but the pack contains Vodka," emphasizing the state's responsibility to safeguard public health.

The petition calls for the central government to establish a uniform policy applicable across all states and Union Territories, effectively banning the sale of alcohol in tetra packs and sachets. Additionally, it seeks to compel states to revise their excise laws and regulations to adopt consistent definitions of 'bottling,' restricting it to glass containers or other clearly distinguishable packaging.