Page 2 - Alcohol

Bihar police seize over 77,000 litres of liquor per month in 2025

An average of over 77,000 litres of liquor has been seized per month till August 2025 in dry Bihar, a 16 per cent increase over the seizure during the same period last year, police said on Monday. The average per-month seizure was 67,000 litres during the first eight months of the previous year, a senior officer said. "The prohibition division of the Bihar Police seized 77,540 litres of liquor, on average, per month this year," he said. Talking to reporters here, Bihar Police's Prohibition Division Additional Director General (ADG) Amit Kumar Jain attributed the increase in the liquor seizure to "enhanced surveillance and stricter enforcement of prohibition laws in the state". "The per-month seizure in 2025 is 16 per cent more than the previous year. The division has so far (till August this year) seized 5,74,526 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), 12,515 litres of country-made liquor and 33,281 litres of spirit from different parts of the state," he said. Since the ...

Mount Everest Breweries acquires Cheers Breweries in ₹300 crore deal

Mount Everest Breweries has acquired Cheers Breweries in Mysuru for Rs 300 crore, boosting capacity by 75 per cent and marking its entry into Karnataka's beer market

UBL aims for 30% growth in its premium segment every quarter: CEO

United Breweries is targeting 25-30% growth in its premium segment every quarter, with plans to expand capacity and outpace market growth in the beer industry, says CEO Vivek Gupta

SC rejects Pernod Ricard's plea over London Pride whisky trademark dispute

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected liquor major Pernod Ricard India's plea to block the sale of London Pride whisky, saying the brand name and packaging were not deceptively similar to its own flagship labels, Blenders Pride and Imperial Blue. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan upheld decisions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Indore Commercial Court which refused to grant the French-owned spirits company an interim injunction against Indore-based manufacturer Karanveer Singh Chhabra. The issue was whether Pernod Ricard India was entitled to an order restraining Chhabra from using the impugned trademark, get-up, and trade dress, including the packaging of LONDON PRIDE' on the ground that such use amounts to infringement its registered trademarks, such as BLENDERS PRIDE', IMPERIAL BLUE', and SEAGRAM'S. It is a settled principle of trademark law that deceptive similarity does not necessitate exact imitation. What is material is the likelihood of confusion o

Allied Blenders & Distillers looks to take advantage of India-UK FTA

Allied Blenders & Distillers aims to add more luxury labels, improve gross margins by 300 bps, and tap UK-India FTA as it focuses on growth in prestige segments

India liquor stocks rally on UK trade deal, premium spirits focus

Shares of India's Tilaknagar Industries Ltd and Allied Blenders & Distillers Ltd have surged more than 40 per cent since late April

India-UK FTA to cut spirit duties, but price drop may be limited: Experts

The India-UK free trade agreement will reduce duties on imported spirits, making premium international options more accessible to Indian consumers, according to industry players, but experts cautioned that the benefits may be limited as the maximum price reduction could be only up to Rs 300 per bottle. As per the FTA signed in London between the two governments, India is reducing duty on UK whisky and gin from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and further to 40 per cent in the tenth year of the deal. "Whisky producers will benefit from tariffs slashed in half, reduced immediately from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and then dropped even further to 40 per cent over the next ten years - giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market," as per an official statement of the UK government. Reacting to the development, the International Spirits and Wines Association of India (ISWAI), which represents premium alcoholic beverage companies in India (mostly MNCs)

United Breweries Q1 results: Profit rises 5.9% to ₹184 cr on lower expenses

United Breweries Ltd reported a 5.9% rise in Q1FY26 profit to ₹184 crore, despite a 7.4% drop in revenue. Premium beer segment grew 46%, led by Kingfisher Ultra and Heineken Silver

Andhra Pradesh cuts liquor prices, tipplers save ₹116 crore every month

Liquor consumers in Andhra Pradesh are collectively saving nearly Rs 116 crore per month, following a reduction in alcohol prices from Rs 10 to Rs 100 per bottle, the first such cut in the state. During a review meeting with officials, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu instructed them to ensure transparency in the liquor policy, maintain affordable prices, and protect public health. He also stressed the need to prevent the sale of fake or substandard liquor brands, according to an official release on Monday. Naidu directed officials to allow only national and international quality brands into the state, and to prohibit the sale of non-duty paid, illicit, or harmful liquor. Officials informed the CM that the new liquor policy has boosted state revenue, brought back trade lost during the previous YSRCP regime, eliminated fake brands, and contributed to improved public health by helping prevent addiction among economically weaker families. Liquor prices have decreased for the first .

Uttar Pradesh govt logs fresh excise proposals worth ₹4,000 crore

The investment proposals were received at the recent 'UP Excise Investors' Summit' in Lucknow, which was organised to promote investments in the alcohol value chain

WHO's '3 by 35' plan aims 50% tax hike on tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks

The WHO says its global tax plan could raise $1 trillion and save 50 million lives by 2035 by curbing harmful product consumption and funding health systems

Gen Z defies 'sober generation' label, alcohol consumption picking up

The IWSR survey found that the proportion of Gen Z adults who reported consuming alcohol in the past six months rose from 66 per cent in March 2023 to 73 per cent in March 2025

Glenwalk maker Cartel & Bros to expand into six Indian cities by 2025

Actor Sanjay Dutt-backed Cartel & Bros aims to sell 350,000 cases by FY26, with Glenwalk set to enter six Indian cities and five new global markets by year-end

Diageo India to acquire majority stake in NAO Spirits for ₹130 cr

United Spirits will acquire a controlling stake in NAO Spirits, including popular gin brands Greater Than and Hapusa, marking a strategic expansion into Indian craft spirits

For Herman Jansen, India still a strategically-important emerging market

The company will focus on growing its European and South East Asian market, says Diederik Jansen

US set to drop daily alcohol limit from dietary guidelines: Report

The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which could be released as early as this month, are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation

Vivek Oberoi-backed Rutland Square targets 100,000 cases annually in India

The Edinburgh-based company is preparing to expand across ten Indian states, including key markets like Bengaluru, Delhi, Goa, and Maharashtra

Alcohol firms seek clarity as Maharashtra hikes excise duty on spirits

Maharashtra's new excise policy raises spirits prices and introduces grain-based liquor; industry groups await clarity while brewers welcome beer tax exemption

Alcohol consumption, vaping affect fertility in men and women: Experts

With the rising fertility problems among women, doctors say that tobacco, alcohol consumption and vaping are silently harming the reproductive health and raising chances of miscarriages. While smoking increases the risk of a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, it also causes DNA damage in sperm, which can lead to miscarriage and birth defects, they say. Fertility problems are rampant in women and also in men. They are not only affected due to age, stress or reproductive health problems, but also due to smoking, drinking and vaping, Motherhood Hospitals, Kharghar, consultant-obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Anuja Thomas told PTI. "These vices are often seen as personal choices, but they impact fertility as well. Many people believe that reducing or pausing these habits only when planning a pregnancy is enough," she said. However, it is necessary to completely avoid these vices as these substances can cause damage to the reproductive organs, hormones, and even the health of future .

Tilaknagar tops $600 mn race for Imperial Blue, to expand whisky portfolio

Tilaknagar Industries leads the race to acquire Pernod Ricard's Imperial Blue whisky brand for an estimated $600 million; deal could mark the largest deal in India's liquor industry in over a decade