Supreme Court Flags Public Health Concerns Over Liquor Sold in Tetra Packs

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday raised strong concerns over the sale of liquor in tetra packs, criticising State governments for prioritising revenue generation at the cost of public health.

“The sale of liquor in tetra packs may provide easy access to school-going children, and its deceptive appearance may go unnoticed by parents,” observed a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.

The remarks came during the hearing of a long-running trademark dispute, when the court was shown whiskey packaged in tetra packs.

‘What is this, juice?’ — Supreme Court Questions Packaging

The Bench noted that the packaging closely resembles fruit-juice cartons, lacks mandatory health warnings, and could allow minors to discreetly carry alcohol into schools, raising serious concerns about misuse and underage access.

Trademark Dispute Referred to Mediation

The observations were made during the hearing of a petition filed by John Distilleries Ltd challenging a Madras High Court order that ruled in favour of Allied Blenders and Distillers, the maker of Officer’s Choice whisky. The High Court had directed the removal of John Distilleries’ Original Choice trademark from the trademark register.

During Monday’s proceedings, the petitioner presented the original bottled versions of both brands, followed by their respective tetra pack formats, prompting the court’s concern.

Given the prolonged nature of the dispute, the Supreme Court referred the parties to former judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao for time-bound mediation and possible settlement. The court directed that preliminary discussions be held within a week and sought a status report within two weeks.