Supreme Court Questions Juice-Like Liquor Tetra Packs, Sends Whisky Trademark Dispute to Mediation

Overview

• Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi called whisky sold in small tetra packs “dangerous” and deceptive because the cartons resemble juice and often lack clear health warnings.
• The court warned the packaging could let schoolchildren carry alcohol unnoticed in bags, saying it was shocked such packs were permitted.
• State governments were criticized for prioritizing excise revenue over public health, with counsel noting tetra packs are major sellers in some markets such as Karnataka.
• Tetra‑pack samples were shown during a hearing on John Distilleries’ challenge to a November 7 Madras High Court ruling favoring Allied Blenders in the Officer’s Choice vs Original Choice trademark case.
• Without deciding the trademark merits, the Supreme Court referred the parties to mediation led by L. Nageswara Rao on a priority, time‑bound basis and indicated it would examine tetra‑pack rules if a public interest case is filed.