If you’re travelling between two cities in India, here’s some reassuring news — you can carry alcohol, but only in your checked-in bag. The DGCA allows each passenger to pack up to five litres. This includes whisky, rum, vodka, gin and wine. The only thing you must watch is the alcohol strength: it should be between 24% and 70% ABV. Anything stronger than 70% is treated as a fire risk and is not allowed at all.
Important rules you must follow
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The bottles must be sealed, unopened, and in their original store packaging.
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You cannot carry a bottle that has already been opened or partly used.
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Pack the bottles carefully. If airport staff notice leakage, they can stop you from boarding until you fix the issue.
There’s also another point many people forget — state laws. Some states like Gujarat and Bihar have strict rules or complete bans on carrying alcohol. So even if the airline has no objection, you could still face issues after landing, depending on your destination’s laws.
Cabin Bags and Alcohol: Much Tighter Restrictions
Many travellers assume that if alcohol is allowed in checked luggage, it must be fine in cabin bags too — but that’s where most people get caught off-guard. The DGCA strongly discourages carrying alcohol in hand baggage, and airlines follow this rule in different ways. One thing is universal: you are never allowed to drink your own alcohol during the flight.
How Indian Airlines Handle Alcohol in Cabin Bags
Air India:
Does not allow alcohol in hand luggage at all.
IndiGo and Akasa Air:
Let you carry up to 1 litre, but only if the bottle was purchased after security check and is still in its sealed, original packaging.
SpiceJet:
Allows duty-free bottles if they are packed in approved, tamper-evident bags.
The policies may look confusing, but they all boil down to one thing — safety. Airlines are far more careful about alcohol in cabin bags than in checked bags. Staff may ask for bills, check the seals, or look at the packaging before letting you board.
Alcohol Rules When Flying Internationally
If you’re flying out of India or coming back from abroad, the guidelines change again. The US TSA rules give a clear example of what most countries follow:
Carry-On:
Only 100 ml bottles are permitted in hand luggage — unless the alcohol is bought from duty-free shops and sealed in special security bags.
Checked Luggage:
You can pack up to 5 litres per person, as long as the alcohol content is between 24% and 70% ABV. Anything stronger than 70% is not allowed in any type of baggage.
Just like in India, even if you lawfully carry alcohol, you’re still not allowed to open or drink it during the flight. That nice duty-free whisky from Heathrow can travel with you, but it has to stay closed until you reach home.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: india.com
