The government of West Bengal in India is planning to introduce branded liquor in tetra packs in an attempt to stop sale of adulterated liquor.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted a source from the secretariat as saying that the liquor will be introduced in packs of 180ml and 90ml.
Alcohol poisoning has been a common occurrence in the country that claims many lives every year. In the latest incident, around 28 people died and around 160 people were hospitalised in Uttar Pradesh as a result of the consumption of adulterated alcohol in January 2015.
West Bengal had also reportedly faced losses of around Rs600cr ($96.27m) last year in the form of adulterated alcohol.
The new packs are claimed to prevent tampering and will be light weight and hygienic. The packs will come with six protective layers.
PTI quoted the source as saying: "It'll be next to impossible for anybody to tamper with the tetra packs and replace the alcohol. If anybody tries to do that, the tetra pack will be damaged permanently. So there is no question of reselling a tetra pack with spurious liquor inside."
"Tetra packs are aimed at economy and non-premium segment, so pricing will likely be done keeping this factor in mind as well as the ad-valorem tax factor and the duties. But it's again the manufacturers' discretion."
Tampering of tetra packs is also expensive as it takes around Rs10cr ($1.6m) in installing new tetra packs manufacturing equipment.
As of initial plans, the packs might be introduced in the rural areas first. States including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Goa have already introduced liquor in tetra packs.
