States have the power to regulate Industrial alcohol or denatured spirit: Supreme Court | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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States have the power to regulate Industrial alcohol or denatured spirit: Supreme Court

Posted 24 Oct 2024

2 min read

In State of U.P. vs. M/S. Lalta Prasad Vaish case, SC held that the term "intoxicating liquor" in Entry 8 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution will include industrial alcohol.

  • It also overruled a 1990 judgment (Synthetics & Chemicals Ltd. v. State of U.P. case) which had said that “intoxicating liquor” refers only to potable alcohol and that States cannot tax industrial alcohol.

Brief Background 

  • Currently, Union regulates industrial alcohol under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, of 1951.
    • Union defended this law on the basis power it receives from Entry 52 (Union List), and Entry 33 (Concurrent List)
      • Entry 52- Industries 
      • Entry 33 - Trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution
  • States Argument: Industrial alcohol can be misused to produce consumable alcohol illegally, which required them to enact legislation.
Inforgaphics showcasing application of the Industrial Alcohol

About Industrial Alcohol

  • It is a one of the major type of Alcohol, other one is Usable alcohol.
    • Usable alcohol predominantly refers to ethyl alcohol (ethanol), intended for human consumption. 
  • It typically refers to isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) or denatured alcohol (ethanol with additives)
  • It is made unfit for drinking by adding substances that make it poisonous or unpleasant to taste.
  • Tags :
  • Industrial Alcohol
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