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

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.

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.

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.