India’s Recent Free Trade Agreements and Alcohol Control: Implications for Public Health and SDG Commitments

09/10/2026

AI Summary

Reduced alcohol tariffs in recent FTAs undermine taxation, a cost-effective public health tool to reduce alcohol-related harm.
India faces high alcohol burden: 20% of global alcohol deaths, rising youth use, and 9% male alcohol use disorder prevalence.
FTAs with UK, EU, USA conflict with SDG 3, WHO guidelines and India's legal framework; cheap imports must be excluded.

TL;DR (AI Generated)

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Existing evidence on the public health burden of alcohol use, along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Government of India policies on alcohol control, and published information on the proposed FTAs, is reviewed.

Reduction in alcohol tariffs proposed under the recent FTAs is inconsistent with Sustainable Development Goal 3, WHO policy guidelines, and national legal and constitutional framework for public health and alcohol control.

CONCLUSION: Given the public health burden of alcohol use and India's commitment to domestic and international alcohol control policies, it must keep cheap imports of alcohol out of the FTAs with the UK, the EU, and the USA.

Basic summary

Indian J Community Med. 2026 Apr;51(Suppl 2):S405-S408. doi: 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_579_25. Epub 2026 May 6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: India accounts for 20% of the worldwide deaths due to alcohol use, and alcohol use among adolescents and young adults is on the rise. In May 2025, the Government of India negotiated Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU) and a proposed agreement with the United States of America (USA), stipulating sweeping reduction in alcohol tariffs. This paper reviews the public health implications of such reduced tariffs under the FTAs.

RESULT: No level of alcohol consumption is safe. Alcohol use disorder affects roughly 9% of Indian men. Extensive legal and constitutional safeguards are available for alcohol control in India. Taxation is one of the most cost-effective interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm. Reduction in alcohol tariffs proposed under the recent FTAs is inconsistent with Sustainable Development Goal 3, WHO policy guidelines, and national legal and constitutional framework for public health and alcohol control.

CONCLUSION: Given the public health burden of alcohol use and India’s commitment to domestic and international alcohol control policies, it must keep cheap imports of alcohol out of the FTAs with the UK, the EU, and the USA.

PMID:42846865 | PMC:PMC13643838 | DOI:10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_579_25

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