SC Seeks Centre’s Response On Plea To Ban Alcohol In Tetra Packs And Sachets

The Supreme Court of India has sought responses from the Centre and other stakeholders on a petition demanding a nationwide ban on the sale of alcohol in tetra packs and sachets , raising concerns over packaging standards, consumer safety and public health.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi agreed to hear the plea filed by the organisation Community Against Drunken Driving . The petition argues that the existing excise framework suffers from a vague and inconsistent definition of “bottling” , allowing alcoholic beverages to be sold in compact and easily concealable packaging formats such as tetra packs and sachets.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Vipin Nair submitted that such packaging often creates visual confusion with fruit juice products , especially when images of fruits like apples are used on alcohol containers. He argued that this practice can mislead consumers, particularly young people, and weakens regulatory safeguards intended to ensure informed consumption.

The plea has urged the Centre to formulate a uniform national policy applicable across all states and Union Territories , ensuring consistency in alcohol regulation. It further seeks directions for states to amend their respective excise laws, rules, and policies in line with a central framework.

A key demand in the petition is a clearer and stricter definition of “bottling,” proposed to be limited to visibly distinct and standardized containers such as glass bottles or similar formats , thereby preventing ambiguity in packaging practices.

The case highlights wider concerns around public health protection, consumer awareness, and regulatory standardisation in India’s alcohol distribution system. The Supreme Court has now issued notices seeking formal responses from the Centre and other parties before further hearing the matter.