Non-Alcoholic Beer Rules in India
In India, the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 define an alcoholic beverage as one containing more than 0.5% alcohol by volume (regulation 1.2.3). The regulations have no standard called non-alcoholic beer. Since December 2020, they have listed "alcohol free beer" as a beer with an ABV of 0.0 that meets the limits for regular beer in every other respect (regulation 4.1).
Checked on 2 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice: laws change, so confirm with the regulator before you rely on a rule.
The rules in India at a glance
- At what alcohol level does a drink count as alcoholic in India?
- More than 0.5% ABV is an "alcoholic beverage" under the FSSAI regulations.
- What may a label call a non-alcoholic beer in India?
- FSSAI rules have no standard called non-alcoholic beer, and "alcohol free beer" means 0.0%. The BIS standard IS 12544 defines non-alcoholic beer as under 0.5%.
- Who may sell or buy non-alcoholic beer in India?
- Alcohol licensing, sale and age rules are set by each state. This page does not summarise them.
The detail, with sources
The Bureau of Indian Standards has a separate standard, IS 12544:1988, which defines non-alcoholic beer as a beverage containing less than 0.5% ethyl alcohol by volume, made by alcoholic fermentation or otherwise. BIS lists it as reaffirmed in November 2023.
Alcohol licensing, sale and age rules in India are set by each state, and this page does not summarise them. Nationally, the Central Consumer Protection Authority's 2022 guidelines ban surrogate advertising, which includes an advertisement that uses the brand name, logo, colour or layout of a product whose advertising is restricted.
- Primary source: FSSAI, Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, compendium version V, 1 December 2025, regulations 1.2.3 and 4.1
- Primary source: Bureau of Indian Standards, IS 12544:1988 Carbonated Beverages Non-Alcoholic Beer, catalogue entry
- Primary source: IS 12544:1988 text, clauses 3.1 and 4.1 (Public.Resource.Org copy)
- Primary source: Central Consumer Protection Authority, Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements, 9 June 2022, guidelines 2(1)(h) and 6
Elsewhere in South Asia
India's food regulations count a drink as alcoholic above 0.5% alcohol by volume, and Bhutan's tax law uses the same line, while Sri Lanka's alcohol law starts at 1%. Pakistan's prohibition law sets no percentage at all. We have not included Nepal yet, because we could not read its laws.
| Country or territory | A drink counts as alcoholic from |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 1% or more is an "alcohol product" under the NATA Act. The Excise Ordinance defines liquor to include any liquid containing alcohol, with no percentage. |
| Bangladesh | Liquids with more than 0.5% alcohol are controlled substances, and beer means a brewed drink with not less than 0.5%. |
| Pakistan | No percentage. "Intoxicating liquor" includes beer and all liquids containing alcohol normally used for intoxication. |
| Bhutan | More than 0.5% ABV is intoxicating liquor, since 1 January 2026. |
| Maldives | No published percentage found. Bringing in liquor needs a licence. |
Across the whole region
- All 27 countries and territories in one table
- What halal authorities have published
- What regulators say about drink-driving laws and non-alcoholic beer
- The same rows as JSON or CSV, free to reuse with credit
If a rule for India has changed, or a source no longer says what we say it does, write to getsoma.store@gmail.com and we will correct it.
Who publishes this page
SOMA is a non-alcoholic craft beer brand founded in Bangalore, India, and its beers are under 0.5% ABV. Our first deliveries will be in Bangalore, and we do not ship outside India. We keep these pages because the rules on non-alcoholic beer differ a great deal between countries, and many pages online state them without a source.
To learn how non-alcoholic beer is made and what is in it, read Non-Alcoholic Beer 101.