Liquor sale in plastic bottles, tetra packs: PIL demands ban

An NGO has moved the Bombay High Court challenging the decision of Maharashtra government to allow sale of liquor in plastic bottles and tetra pack pouches, saying it was hazardous to public health.

Global Enviro Solutions, dedicated to protection and conservation of environment, contended in a PIL that plastic had leaching (to empty or drain) tendency as a result of which liquor, containing alcohol, gets contaminated.

Tetra pack pouches are made of aluminium foils and because of leaching tendency of these pouches the liquor inside gets contaminated, the PIL filed by the NGO submitted.

If such plastic bottles and tetra pack pouches, containing liquor, are stored in high temperatures or exposed to sun shine for a long time, it would spoil the product (liquor) and render it harmful for human consumption, the PIL argued.

Referring to a health report, the PIL claimed that alcohol is acidic in nature and after it comes in contact with a plastic surface, some carcinogenic compounds may find way into the alcohol thereby posing risk to human lives.

If 'contaminated' liquor is consumed unknowingly by people who purchase plastic bottles or tetra pack pouches from liquor shops, then they may contract many harmful diseases which might even result in physical disorders, the NGO contended.

The petitioner urged the court to ban the sale of liquor in plastic bottles and tetra packs in public interest.

The matter was mentioned last week by lawyer Sadhana Mahashabade before a bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah, who fixed the hearing on March 13.

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