Bhubaneswar, Feb 21: The Odisha government has decided that alcoholic beverages will no longer be sold solely in glass bottles, introducing tetra packs as an alternative packaging option under the state’s excise policy.

With the revised excise rules in place, liquor may now be retailed in tetra packs similar to those used for fruit juices. The initiative is aimed at cutting down the use of glass bottles and encouraging safer, more environmentally friendly packaging methods.

Responding to a question by Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud in the state Assembly, Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Saturday said the shift to tetra packs has been approved as a step toward better environmental protection. He noted that the decision aligns with the government’s broader commitment to sustainability.

The minister also emphasized that, from an environmental conservation standpoint, the government is urging institutions and individuals to promote the reuse and recycling of glass bottles wherever they remain in circulation.