"Very Deceptive": Supreme Court Issues Notice on Plea to Ban Alcohol in Tetra Packs

The Supreme Court issued notices to the Central government and state excise departments regarding a Public Interest Litigation seeking an immediate ban on selling alcohol in "inconspicuous packaging" like tetra packs and sachets.

The Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant termed the practice "very deceptive" after the petitioner highlighted that these alcohol containers carry fruit imagery, such as apples or mangoes, closely resembling ordinary juice boxes without prominent health warnings.

The petitioner, argued that this packaging facilitates public concealment, encourages underage consumption, and eases cross-border smuggling, demanding a uniform national policy restricting bottling to visibly distinct glass containers.

[Community Against Drunken Driving v. The UOI]