India, July 31 -- The Kerala government is introducing a bottle return scheme to cut down on plastic waste from liquor packaging. From January 2026, customers buying alcohol in plastic bottles priced under Rs.800 will be charged an extra Rs.20.

This amount will be refunded when the empty bottle is returned to the same Bevco outlet it was bought from, according to a PTI news agency report.

The plan was announced by state excise and local self government minister MB Rajesh during a press meet on Thursday. He said liquor priced above Rs.800 would be sold in glass bottles, while cheaper alcohol would continue to be sold in plastic.

Rajesh said, "Anyone can return the bottle and collect the Rs.20. It has to be returned to the outlet it was ...