Air travellers grappling with confusion over Telangana’s rules on carrying liquor 

Passengers arriving at the RGIA are frequently caught unaware of the quantity of alcohol they are permitted to carry, leading to penalties, confiscation, and growing frustration.

Hyderabad: Travellers flying into Hyderabad, both on domestic and international flights, are grappling with confusion over Telangana’s excise rules on carrying liquor. Passengers arriving at the RGIA are frequently caught unaware of the quantity of alcohol they are permitted to carry, leading to penalties, confiscation, and growing frustration.

Excise officials say as per local law, no liquor is to be carried into the State by domestic passengers and for international passengers, only 2 liters is permissible.

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Under Telangana’s excise rules, an individual is legally permitted to possess up to 6 liters of liquor for personal use within the State. This relatively high limit compared to other States is often leading to misunderstandings among passengers, especially those arriving from abroad or other Indian states with stricter alcohol laws.

For domestic travelers arriving in Hyderabad, the rules vary depending on the point of departure and the airline’s regulations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allows passengers to carry up to 5 liters of liquor in checked-in baggage on domestic flights, with no allowance for alcohol in hand baggage.

This guideline, however, often leads to confusion when passengers assume they can carry up to the 6-litre limit set by Telangana’s excise department. However, excise department officials say as per local laws, no liquor is permitted from other states into Telangana by domestic passengers.

“Actually, not even a single liter can be carried by domestic passengers who come into Hyderabad from other states,” said a senior official from the Excise Department.

Meanwhile, passengers arriving in Hyderabad on international flights face additional confusion regarding duty-free alcohol allowances.

The Customs Act of India permits international travelers to bring 2 liters of duty-free alcohol into the country. This includes wine, beer, and spirits. However, Telangana’s excise rules still apply once passengers clear customs. If they wish to carry additional liquor beyond the duty-free limit, it must comply with Telangana’s excise cap of 6 liters.

Many passengers arriving from countries with cheaper alcohol prices, are often unaware that their purchases beyond the 2-liter duty-free limit must be declared and may be subjected to fines or confiscation.

“As per the Customs rules, an international passenger is permitted to carry only 2-litres or 2 bottles. As it falls under foreign goods category and as per central government rules, we do not stop them. Anything in excess, it’s illegal as per local excise laws,” the official said. Consequences may include the seizure of the excess alcohol, fines, and in severe cases, legal action.