In India, so many of us find the country’s extensive railway network more feasible than flying. Air travel regulations are clear and consistent, whereas train regulations differ according to state legislation, enforcement procedures, and the specific items you are carrying.
With festive and holiday travel picking up across India, a frequent question for travellers on the rail network is: Can you carry bottles of alcohol on a train? And one of the most frequently asked question from travellers is how much alcohol a person is allowed to carry during train journies. The answer is not as simple as many would assume. It depends on state excise laws, route, quantity, packaging, and consumption behaviour.
A senior Indian Railways officer stated, “carrying liquor or alcohol bottles is not allowed on trains.” The railways’ stance stems from concerns over safety, unruly behaviour, and the comfort of passengers, The Indian Express reported.
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In contrast to airlines, which usually allow a certain amount of sealed alcohol bottles in checked in baggage, Indian Railways does not officially provide a unified, national policy allowing travellers to carry alcohol.
Although the outright prohibition is applicable in many situations, the reality is more complex: state excise regulations, rather than a single, uniform federal regulation, control the transportation of alcohol, according to Outlook Traveller.
Passengers can carry sealed bottles for personal use, typically up to 1-2 litres, along with the purchase receipt in states that allow travellers to do so for alcoholic beverages. Even sealed bottles could get you in trouble if you go through a dry state, where it is illegal or restricted to transport or possess alcohol. This group includes states like Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, and parts of Lakshadweep.
It is equally important to note that drinking alcohol on a train is completely prohibitted, even if one is permitted to carry it. Authorities have the right to offload passengers found intoxicated or drinking on board and impose fines that may increase based on the level of disturbance.
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Key rules travellers should note
With the receipt at hand, the alcohol must be purchased from a legal establishment and should be sealed. It is completely forbidden to consume alcohol during train journies or in the carriage or railway platforms.
Alcohol transportation may be strictly prohibited and subject to fines or confiscation if the rail route travels through or stops in a dry-state jurisdiction.
For safety concerns, train employees are subject to zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol consumption.
According to the railways, drinking and carrying alcohol on trains not only puts passengers’ safety at risk but causes disruptive behaviour and discomfort for other passengers.
Due to potentials for accidents that could compromise the safe operation of trains, railways strongly prohibits operating personnel from being intoxicated while on duty.
