Describing the practice as “very deceptive”, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central government and Excise Departments of various States on a Public Interest Litigation seeking a ban on the sale of alcohol in “inconspicuous packaging” such as tetra packs and sachets resembling fruit juice cartons.
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Describing the practice as “very deceptive”, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central government and Excise Departments of various States on a Public Interest Litigation seeking a ban on the sale of alcohol in “inconspicuous packaging” such as tetra packs and sachets resembling fruit juice cartons.
A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed “This is very deceptive” after advocate Vipin Nair, told the bench that such packaging closely resembled fruit juice products and lacked statutory warnings associated with harmful products such as tobacco and alcoholic drinks.
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Advocate Vipin Nair appeared for the petitioner organisation Community against Drunken Driving.
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Pointing to the packaging of certain liquor products, Nair submitted that these cartons carried images of fruits such as apples and mangoes and were marketed under labels suggestive of flavoured beverages, despite containing vodka. He argued that the packaging made it difficult to distinguish alcoholic beverages from ordinary juice packs.
“This is very deceptive,” Chief Justice Kant remarked while issuing notice in the matter.
The petition contends that packaging alcoholic beverages in tetra packs and sachets facilitates concealment, encourages public drinking and drunk driving, and makes access easier for underage consumers. It also alleges that such packaging increases the possibility of smuggling liquor across State borders.
The plea further states that unlike tobacco products, these alcohol packs do not carry prominent statutory warnings despite their potential public health consequences.
The petitioner organisation has urged the Union government to frame a uniform national policy prohibiting sale of alcohol in such inconspicuous packaging. It has also sought directions restricting “bottling” of alcohol to glass bottles or other visibly distinguishable containers.
Notably, the Supreme Court had earlier, in November 2025, expressed concern over the growing sale of liquor in tetra packs while hearing a trademark dispute between two whisky manufacturers, observing that the packaging resembled fruit juice cartons.
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