Alcohol

Why is India's probe of Scotch imports from Britain rattling liquor majors?

Centre is arguing privately with companies - from Diageo and Pernod to Radico Khaitan and Allied Blenders and Distillers - that their bulk Scotch imports do not qualify for the lower 75% tariff

United Spirits reports Q2 profit of ₹462 cr, revenue at ₹7,001 cr

United Spirits reported a net profit of ₹462 crore for Q2 FY27, while revenue from operations stood at ₹7,001 crore during the September quarter.

United Breweries Q2 profit jumps nearly 3x to ₹134.81 cr on volume growth

Beer maker United Breweries Ltd on Tuesday reported a nearly three-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 134.81 crore in the September quarter, primarily driven by premiumisation, cost efficiency and volume growth. The Dutch multinational brewing company Heineken NV-controlled firm had posted a net profit of Rs 46.34 crore in the July-September period a year ago, according to a regulatory filing. UBL's revenue from operations increased 23.7 per cent year-on-year to Rs 4,623 crore in the September quarter of FY27, compared to Rs 3,737.31 crore in the corresponding period a year ago. "Net Sales grew 24 per cent, driven by strong volume growth, structural price increases, premiumisation, favourable geographic mix and improvement in the company's operating mix," said UBL in its earnings statement. The company's Ebitda grew 108 per cent in the quarter under review, while the Ebitda margin improved by 480 basis points, driven by better operating efficiency and cost control, the ...

Railways yet to clarify alcohol testing norms a year after Bilaspur crash

The Railway Board is yet to decide whether a loco pilot is fit to operate a train if a certain amount of alcohol is detected in their blood, given the current policy requiring zero alcohol presence, a senior official has told PTI, asserting that a decision in this regard should be taken at the earliest. The issue gained significance after a Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) investigation report noted that blood tests conducted on the running crew of two trains involved in a collision in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur in 2025 showed alcohol concentrations ranging from 3 to 10 milligrams per 100 mL (mg/dL) of blood. On November 4, 2025, the Gevra-Bilaspur MEMU passenger train rammed into the rear of a stationary goods train near Bilaspur, killing 12 people including the loco pilot of the passenger train and injuring around 20. The CRS investigation found that the passenger train had overshot a red signal, also noting that the loco pilot had previously failed a mandatory aptitude test and

AlcoBev industry contributed ₹4 trillion to India's FY25 taxes: Report

Telangana had the highest share of alcohol revenue in states' own tax revenue in FY25 at 32 per cent, followed by Tamil Nadu at 27 per cent and Uttar Pradesh at 25 per cent.

The spirit of liquor bans

The apex court rightly highlights futility of prohibition

Old Monk, flavouring, and the question of what makes your rum a rum

Old Monk's FSSAI dispute has put the spotlight on what goes into Indian rum and whisky, from neutral spirit and flavouring to distillation, blending and ageing

Multiple challenges ahead for Varun Beverages as it eyes alcobev market

The move opens a larger addressable market but analysts see state-level regulatory complexity, limited distribution synergies and weak near-term earnings contribution

Varun Beverages board approves entry into alcoholic beverages segment

Appoints former Diageo executive Prathmesh Mishra as MD & CEO to lead KIVA Spirits and Company, its proposed wholly owned alcoholic beverages subsidiary

Varun Beverages enters alcohol business, appoints ex-Diageo executive

Varun Beverages is entering the alcoholic drinks market, setting up a wholly owned subsidiary and appointing former Diageo executive Prathmesh Mishra as its CEO and MD

AlcoBev makers challenge FSSAI directive over flavoring norms in HCs

AlcoBev makers -- United Spirits and Associated Alcohol & Breweries -- have moved the Bombay High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court, respectively, challenging the FSSAI directive that indicted them for adding flavours that mimic a product's natural profile. Leading player United Spirits Ltd, part of British multinational Diageo PLC, has moved the Bombay High Court against the Centre and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). While Associated Alcohol & Breweries Ltd had moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court on July 31 against the notice issued by the food regulator. The Indore bench of the High Court has scheduled the case for hearing on Wednesday. Besides, this matter is also being taken up with the FSSAI by the respective industry associations, CIABC (Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies) and ISWAI (International Spirits & Wines Association of India). USL, in a regulatory filing, said it has "filed a Writ Petition before the Bombay High .

ABDL targets mid-teen growth in FY27, aims to cross ₹600 crore Ebitda

Alco-beverage firm ABDL expects to deliver mid-teen growth in revenue and volume in FY27, driven by premiumisation, exports and capacity expansion, despite uncertainties arising from geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, Managing Director Amar Sinha said. Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd (ABDL), which owns brands such as Officer's Choice and ICONiQ, is pursuing a three-year transformation strategy focused on premiumisation, strengthening margins and expanding its international footprint, he said. The Chhabria family-promoted firm, which is expanding its international footprint, expects to increase presence to 60-70 countries over the next three years, driven by premium and mass-premium portfolio. "We would have a volume and top-line growth of mid-teens in FY27. EBITDA margins should remain stable and comparable to FY26," Sinha told PTI in an interaction. The company said its premiumisation drive remains the key growth lever going forward as it reported a 5.8 per cen

Indian single malt sales hit 500k in 2025, local firms dominate: CIABC

Indian single malt whisky, which has won several global awards and gained international fame in the last couple of years for its craftsmanship, are estimated to have grown to about 5 lakh cases in 2025, registering a growth of approximately 22 per cent, according to data released by the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC). This growth has been primarily driven by homegrown desi labels such as Amrut, Rampur, Indri, and Paul John, along with newer entrants, including Solan Gold, GianChand, Doaab, Crazy Cock, Aaghaz, and Gamber Valley, as the category gains stronger traction within India's premium and luxury spirits space, CIABC said. Moreover, the desi companies continue to dominate the 'Made in India' Single Malt Whisky landscape, accounting for an estimated 92 per cent of category sales in 2025. Indian single malt whisky brands such as Diageo's Godawan and Pernod Ricard's Longitude 77, which are owned and backed by foreign and multinational companies, are ..

Breweries Association urges Bihar to lift alcohol ban in a phased manner

The Brewers' body has urged the Bihar government to begin easing prohibition with low-alcohol beverages, adopt alcohol-content-based taxation and earmark cess collections for welfare

Prescription, licence must to sell drugs with high-alcohol content

Oral drug formulations containing over 12 per cent ethyl alcohol will require prescriptions and licensed retail sale under new rules aimed at curbing misuse and hoarding

FSSAI pulls up alcohol makers over flavour, age claims: What the rules say

FSSAI found some alcohol makers using prohibited flavours, making misleading age claims and incorrectly declaring the age of blended spirits

Centre mandates licensing for medicinal formulations with over 12% alcohol

The Centre has withdrawn the licensing exemption for medicinal formulations containing more than 12 per cent of ethyl alcohol and brought them under stricter regulatory oversight, including mandatory licensing and prescription-only sale, to curb misuse and prevent diversion for intoxication, officials said. Certain medicinal products, including tinctures of cardamom, ginger and other aromatic preparations, have been exempted from licensing requirements under Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945, the ministry said. Some of these formulations contain high concentrations of ethyl alcohol, in certain cases up to 80-90 per cent volume per volume (v/v), making them susceptible to misuse for intoxication, it said. References were also received from certain state governments in this regard, the ministry said. To address this concern, the government has mandated that all formulations containing more than 12 per cent v/v ethyl alcohol, in quantities exceeding 30 ml, shall no longer be covered

France curbs public alcohol consumption, outdoor sports amid scorching heat

France is putting emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricting public alcohol consumption and cancelling some outdoor sports events to cope with a heat wave unfurling across parts of Europe. About a third of France is under the national weather service's heat red alert Sunday and temperatures are high nationwide, expected to reach 40 C on Sunday in some areas, in a country where air-conditioning isn't widespread. The forecast for Monday is even hotter. The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds, among a raft of measures announced by national and local authorities to minimize risks. More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organisation's Europe office said this month. More above-average temperatures are expected this summer, which can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. WHO's Europe office

Liquor firms urge Telangana to clear ₹3,700 cr dues before discount rollout

Industry bodies representing more than 80 per cent of India's alcoholic beverage market have urged Telangana to clear pending payments before implementing a new early-payment discount mechanism

MakaDi and Borecha maker LB Brewers eyes ₹500 cr sales, IPO plans on cards

Goa-based Latambarcem Brewers (LB Brewers), which owns craft beer MakaDi and functional beverage drink 'Borecha', plans to cross the Rs 500 crore revenue mark in the next 4-5 years and also has listing plans in the mid-term to fund its expansion plans, said a company official. The company, which started its journey from a home-brewing experiment at a US apartment, has evolved into a fast-growing beverage business in India, and has plans to cross Rs 60 crore this fiscal from nearly Rs 24 crore in the previous year, driven by rapid expansion across Indian states and overseas markets, said its Chief Growth Officer Sarika Varshnei. LB Brewers has a pan-India presence of Borecha, while its beer brand 'MakaDi', which has presence in 10 states, is expected to become profitable this fiscal. "In the next five years, we expect to cross the Rs 500-crore revenue mark, and potentially exceed it. I am probably being conservative in that estimate. I am not a finance person; my focus has always bee