India’s alcohol and beverage industry is shaking things up! Glass bottles have been the go-to, especially for premium liquor. But now, with glass prices jumping all over the place and supply delays causing headaches, companies are eyeing newer packaging options like PET and aseptic packs (also known as Tetra Pak). Vinod Giri, Director General of the Beverage Association of India, gave the inside scoop. He said, "Glass is always open to price fluctuations and keeps companies’ margins in the cloud." This means glass costs can surprise companies, making profits tricky. On the other hand, PET and aseptic packs offer steadier costs but aren’t seen as classy enough for fancy liquor. They usually fit low-end spirit brands. Why this switch? "Companies want to shift to alternative options for low-end brands as the costs are lower," Vinod added. This helps keep profits even when the margin is tiny. States like Karnataka show this clearly – about 80% of liquor there comes in Tetra Pak because they have a big low-end market. But for the more upscale drinks? Glass is still the king. In some states, PET packs are frowned upon due to environmental worries. Meanwhile, Tetra Packs score points for being hard to fake, which cuts down illegal sales. Yet, many states haven’t updated their excise policies to include these newer packs. Across India, the packaging styles vary wildly. In Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, low-cost liquor is mostly sold in aseptic packs. Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana prefer PET. Some states even sell country liquor in pouches! Pradeep Jain, CFO at United Spirits Limited, shared some behind-the-scenes info during their Q1 call. Furnace shutdowns caused some glass supply issues and made freight a bit costlier. But with smart moves like alternative sourcing, changing packaging, and long-term vendor contracts, they kept costs and profits steady. He also warned, "We do expect some supply-related disruptions in the upcoming quarter on glass, owing to planned furnace shutdowns from key suppliers." Amar Sinha, COO of Radico Khaitan, added in their Q2 call that India actually has more glass-making capacity than needed. But some big makers aren't fully using their factories yet. Prices for glass bottles are stable and new factories might balance price and demand better soon. Utsav Kedia, Vice President at Great Galleon Ventures, shared a different angle. His company is testing recycled PET (rPET) to save costs, reduce breakage, and prepare for the future. He said, "Packaging costs have been rising across the board. Alternative materials help by reducing breakage, improving logistics, and giving more flexibility in sourcing." However, rPET is not a full glass replacement yet because India's recycling system for glass isn’t smooth. Plus, rPET costs more than regular PET right now, but might get cheaper as more companies use it. Utsav also said, "While switching from glass works for product lines, we look at three filters: product suitability, consumer acceptance, and operational feasibility." Big bottles like 750ml and 1-litre exports still mostly use glass. Lastly, he reminded us that consumers might like new pack types more than companies think. If the product is trusted and packaging feels right, customers don’t mind. They care most about convenience, truthfulness, and brands explaining why a material is better. All in all, India’s alcobev scene is on a packaging rollercoaster — balancing tradition with cool, new options for smart savings and better supply!