The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central government to respond to a petition seeking a ban on sale of alcohol in "inconspicuous packages" such as tetra packs and sachets..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued a notice to the Union as well the excise departments of various State governments on the petition moved by an organisation called Community against Drunken Driving. "This is very deceptive. Notice issued," CJI Kant remarked.The Court made the observation after Advocate Vipin Nair, appearing for the petitioners, argued that there was no warning on such products."Unlike tobacco, there is no warning. These packs are fruit juices but has vodka with pictures of apples. Chilli mango vodka etc," Nair said..In November 2025, the Court had criticised the widespread sale of liquor in tetra packs, observing that the carton packaging resembles fruit-juice boxes. The Court had made the observation while hearing cross-petitions in a trademark rectification battle between two whisky brands.Community against Drunken Driving has now moved the Court seeking a direction to the Union of India to frame a policy for all States and Union Territories to ban the sale of alcohol in such packaging.It has also sought a direction for a uniform definition of "bottling" limited to glass containers or other visibly distinct containers..The organisation has argued that such packaging could lead to consumption by juveniles, drinking in moving vehicles, increased ease of smuggling and environmental risks. "Such packaging, being deceptively similar to fruit juices, facilitates easy access and concealment, encourages underage consumption, promotes public drinking and drunk driving, and even enables smuggling across State borders." The plea has called it alarming that these tetra packs are marketed under labels such as "Bunty Premium Vodka," "Chelli Mango Vodka," and "Premium Romanov Vodka - Apple Thrill" to mislead consumers. "The use of fruit names alongside colour photographs of apples and mangoes on the packaging further reinforces this deception. This reflects a deliberate marketing strategy to pass off alcoholic beverages as fruit juices, thereby to evade scrutiny by the authorities and further target underage consumers," the plea contends.
