India’s small footprint and the veritable diversity that brings new flavours and culinary delicacies within an expanse of a few kilometers of travel, you can experience new flavours, traditions and maxims. The traditional culinary changes also trickle down to spirits, prepared in the quintessential ways. There has been a growing demand for home-grown spirits throughout the nation. With such a variety on offer, it’s evident that travellers might want to carry alcohol on a domestic flight. Here are all the rules that you need to know for doing so.
How Much Alcohol You Can Carry on a Domestic Flight
In India, passengers on a domestic flight can carry a maximum of five litres of liquor in the baggage. The advised alcohol content per bottle should be between 24% and 70% alcohol by volume, covering most standard wines and spirits. Alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content are strictly prohibited. Carrying partially consumed or opened alcohol bottles is also prohibited.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines and security checkpoints may prevent passengers from boarding if the individual alcohol bottles are not in their original retail packaging and packed appropriately in order to prevent damage and leakage.
Carrying Alcohol in Your Cabin Bag
As per the regulations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), carrying alcohol in hand baggage is restricted, especially as passengers are not allowed to consume their own alcoholic beverages on the flight. Each airline has a set of specific guidelines on how to travel with alcohol in the cabin bag. Do check the rules and regulations of your airlines before carrying alcohol.
Airlines like Air India prohibit it entirely, while Akasa Air, SpiceJet and IndiGo permit travel with bottles in a carry-on so long as the bottle was purchased post passenger screening or from the airport security hold area.
Air India prohibits it entirely, while Akasa Air, SpiceJet and IndiGo permit travel with bottles in a carry-on so long as the bottle was purchased post passenger screening or from the airport security hold area. Note that bottles must be in their original retail packaging. Both IndiGo and Akasa Air have a one-litre limit for alcohol in cabin bags. SpiceJet requires bottles to be packed in Security Tamper-Evident Bags of specific dimensions. Be sure to check with your airline for their specific alcohol packaging requirements and limits before you head to the airport.
