Supreme Court alarmed by liquor in ‘pocket-size’ tetra packs, mistakes it initially for juice

The Supreme Court, on Monday (November 17, 2025), took stern exception to liquor being sold in small tetra packs, with one of the judges, Justice Surya Kant, mistaking a sample packet for ‘juice’.

Events unfolded before the Bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, during the hearing of a trademark dispute between John Distilleries Pvt. Ltd., which sells the product ‘Original Choice’ whisky, and Allied Blenders and Distilleries Pvt. Ltd., which produces ‘Officers Choice’ whisky.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for one of the manufacturers, produced exhibits of the liquor bottles of both companies. Some of them were tetra packs. Mr. Rohatgi was arguing about the label designs of both companies.

A couple of the bottles and tetra packs were also handed over to the Bench to look and compare the alleged similarities in their label designs.

“What is this? A juice packet?” Justice Kant asked as soon as the items reached the Bench.

The court asked whether liquor should be sold in tetra packs at all. It said such packaging was both “dangerous” and deceptive.

“Should this be permitted? We think this is very dangerous. These pocket-sized packs can be taken to schools or colleges by the students in their bags. Parents can be easily deceived… How did the governments permit these kinds of packets? This is a public interest issue. If someone files public interest litigation, we would like to examine,” Justice Kant observed.

One of the senior counsel said the State was only interested in making revenue.

To this, Justice Bagchi asked, “do you know how much public funds are wasted on health in this bid to make revenue”.