Alcohol is a controversial topic in our country. Because Indian alcohol regulations are somehow complicated and vary from one state to another state, carrying liquor in a private car is a matter that frequently sparks debate in the whole nation. Although it’s not strictly against the legislation to have alcohol in your car, the specifications may vary depending on the state, the amount being transported, and the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to adhere to Indian law. If you are someone who wants to know if it is legal to carry alcohol in a car in India, then you are reading the correct article. Let us discuss the legality and requirements for carrying alcohol in India.
What points do you need to consider while carrying Alcohol in your vehicle?
- You should only carry alcohol for your own use; it should not be sold or given away. Large-scale transportation of alcohol, particularly without a permit, may be considered by police as an intent to distribute, and the individual doing so can result in legal repercussions.
- The amount of alcohol that can be transported in a car varies by state. For instance:
- Twelve bottles of beer beverage, 5 liters of wine, and a single liter of strong alcoholic beverages are allowed per person in the country’s capital city Delhi.
- Each individual is allowed to carry at least a minimum of twelve bottles of wine and a maximum of twelve units of beer in Maharashtra. One needs to have a special permit to go over these limitations of Liquor.
- Because certain states of India do not allow the importation of alcohol, it gets very difficult to transport alcohol over state lines. Even with lawfully obtained liquor from another state, entering a different state can result in seizure and legal repercussions.
- It is not legally required, but it is advised to keep liquor in the storage area of your vehicle. In order to prevent suspicion of open-container violations—which some jurisdictions prohibit even for private vehicles—the alcohol should be kept sealed and ideally in its original packaging.
- You might require a transport permit if you’re moving more alcohol than the state allows. A store receipt or other proof of purchase can also be useful if the vehicle is pulled over for examination.
What does the law say about drunken driving?
Whenever we talk about people driving while intoxicated (DUI), Indian law is stringent. If a driver is found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than 30 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, they may face penalties and perhaps jail time under the provisions of section 185 of the law governing motor vehicles. For professional drivers, the legal BAC limit is essentially zero tolerance, and it is also restricted for private drivers.
State regulations pertaining to open containers differ. It is against the law to keep a bottle of liquor open within the driver’s or passengers’ reach, even in those states where transporting alcohol is permissible since this could be interpreted as an intention to consume while operating a motor vehicle.
