SC seeks response on plea to ban sale of liquor in tetra packs

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea seeking direction to forthwith ban the sale of alcohol in packaging such as tetra packs and sachets. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi agreed to hear the petition filed by organisation ‘Community Against Drunken Driving’. Advocate Vipin Nair, appearing for the petitioner, said that definition of bottle was “vague” under the excise regime and some standardisation has to come in this regard. “They are confusing fruit juice with liquor. They use photo of apple and the pack contains Vodka,” he said, adding the State has the duty to protect the health of citizens.