SC issues notice on PIL against liquor sold in tetra packs

(IANS) NEW DELHI, May 20: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and all states on a PIL raising concerns over the sale of alcohol in inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs, PET bottles, plastic sachets and other portable containers. During the hearing, the CJI Kant-led Bench orally remarked, “This is very deceptive”. The plea seeks formulation of uniform and harmonised guidelines across states to regulate the packaging of liquor, contending that divergent definitions under various State Excise Acts allow alcohol to be sold in “flasks”, “pots”, “wrappers” and other similar receptacles. According to the petition, alcohol is increasingly being sold in portable and inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs, plastic sachets and small PET bottles, which can be easily concealed and carried in public places.