The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and state excise departments on a plea seeking a nationwide ban on alcohol sold in tetra packs
May 20, 2026: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and state excise departments on a petition seeking a ban on the sale of alcohol in inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs, sachets and portable PET bottles. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant agreed to hear the plea filed by NGO Community Against Drunken Driving. During the hearing, the court observed that liquor sold in fruit juice-style packaging appeared “very deceptive” after being shown examples of vodka tetra packs carrying images of green apples and mangoes.
Advocate Vipin Nair, appearing for the petitioner, argued that such packaging confuses consumers and lacks prominent health warnings. He told the court that some products resembled ordinary fruit juice cartons despite containing alcohol, making them attractive and easily accessible, especially to juveniles. The petition claimed that packaging such as “Apple Thrill Vodka” and “Chili Mango Vodka” could mislead consumers and encourage public drinking, including in parks, educational institutions and moving vehicles.
The plea has sought directions to the Centre to frame a uniform policy across states and Union Territories restricting alcohol bottling to clearly distinguishable containers such as glass bottles. It also highlighted concerns related to health risks, underage drinking, smuggling and environmental damage caused by plastic sachets and tetra packs. The petitioner argued that excise authorities currently prioritise revenue generation over public health and environmental concerns, making intervention by the apex court necessary.