India's 5-litre alcohol rule for domestic flights explained

If you fly on an airplane inside India, you can bring alcohol with you, but there are rules.

Each passenger can put up to 5 litres of alcohol in the luggage that goes in the plane's belly.

The alcohol cannot be too strong — it must be between 24% and 70% alcohol, and anything stronger is not allowed.

Beer and wine are weaker than 24%, so the 5-litre rule does not apply to them, but heavy bags may still be a problem.

Bottles must be new and unopened, with proper padding so they do not break or leak.

You usually cannot keep alcohol in the bag you carry onto the plane with you.

The only exception is alcohol bought at the airport after security, which comes in a special sealed bag, usually about one litre.

You are not allowed to drink your own alcohol during the flight — only the airline's drinks are okay.

Even if you land with alcohol, some states like Gujarat and Bihar do not allow people to have it, so you can get into trouble there.