The Kerala government has informed the High Court that it cannot ban the sale of liquor in plastic bottles, citing the absence of legal provisions to support such a restriction. The statement was made in response to a petition seeking a ban on plastic packaging in the state’s liquor sector.
The court had earlier directed the state to consult relevant stakeholders before arriving at a decision. Following this, meetings were held with the pollution control board, Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco), distilleries, and the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) suppliers’ association. Based on the inputs received, the government submitted that banning plastic liquor bottles would severely disrupt the supply chain and retail operations.
According to the affidavit, Kerala lacks in-state production units for glass liquor bottles. Most glass bottles are sourced from states such as Uttar Pradesh, leading to logistical difficulties and higher transportation costs. The government also cited that plastic bottles are easier to recycle within the state’s current waste management system, while infrastructure for glass recycling remains limited.
The state had previously announced, in 2022, its intention to phase out plastic bottles in the liquor sector. However, that policy has not been implemented, and the government’s latest submission marks a reversal from its earlier position.
On average, Bevco sells around 19 lakh cases of liquor every month, which translates to an estimated 30 lakh plastic bottles.
Officials stated that any abrupt ban on plastic packaging could affect availability of liquor in the market and create logistical difficulties for producers and retailers.
As part of efforts to promote responsible disposal, Bevco has introduced a bottle-bin scheme to collect used plastic liquor bottles from customers. The pilot project has been launched in Thiruvananthapuram city and Kannur rural region in collaboration with the Suchitwa Mission and Clean Kerala Company.
Under the initiative, customers can return used plastic bottles at designated bins placed at Bevco outlets. A small refund or incentive may be provided, though final details of the mechanism are yet to be announced. The project currently targets plastic packaging, which accounts for roughly 75 % of total liquor sales.
Extension of the scheme to glass bottles may be considered based on the outcome of the pilot phase.
With the High Court disposing of the petition and the government maintaining its stand, plastic liquor bottles will continue to be in circulation across the state. While the recycling initiative is being expanded, no new regulatory restrictions on plastic packaging in the liquor sector are expected in the near future.
