MUSCAT: With India planning to reduce the number of alcohol bottles and cigarette packets that a passenger can buy at duty-free outlets when returning from an overseas trip, it may have an impact on those passengers leaving from Oman to India. 

On Sunday, Times of India reported that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has proposed to reduce the alcohol bottles and cigarette packets that a passenger can buy from a duty-free outlet when returning from an overseas trip.

Currently, a passenger travelling to India can purchase two litre of liquor and 100 cigarettes. However, as per plans, the number of alcohol bottles that can be bought from duty-free outlets is now proposed be halved from the current two. “This means a person can carry just one-litre of liquar bottle instead of two litres, while the cigarette sticks had been previously cut from 200 to 100. It is now proposed to be slashed further.,” said a government official in India.   

Although a final decision is yet to be taken, the move has already triggered criticism as flyers shop for their favourite brand which are cost-effective compared to India.