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Informist, Thursday, Jun. 25, 2026

 

--Sources: RIL mulling to launch low alcohol beverages in India 

--Sources: RIL's alcoholic drink brand will be different from Campa Cola 

--Sources: RIL may even look to buy alcohol manufacturing company 

 

By Sunil Raghu

 

AHMEDABAD - Reliance Industries Ltd. is learnt to be considering the launch of ready-to-drink 'soft' or 'low' alcoholic beverages in the Indian market, three people familiar with the plans told Informist.

 

"The plans are being worked upon and it should be matter of time before we replicate the success of Campa in the Indian market, with the launch of low alcohol beverages," a senior company official said on condition of anonymity. "We would not like to let one of our key competitor Varun Beverages get a walkover in an area that could be the next big thing with young generation."

 

Low alcoholic beverages are drinks that contain significantly less alcohol than standard beers, wines, or spirits. These generally range from 0.5% to 1.2% alcohol by volume (ABV), whereas non-alcoholic or "zero" options have 0-0.05?V. They are generally sold as flavoured malt drinks, hard seltzers, or low ABV cocktails. Some notable low-alcohol beverage brands available in the Indian market include So Good Soju, IST Hard Seltzer - the low-calorie, low-sugar alcoholic sparkling beverage; Barneys Hard Seltzer - one of India's early hard seltzer brands, and imported and premium non-alcoholic beers such as Heineken 0.0.

 

The company plans to sell these beverages only in states where alcohol sales are not prohibited. Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, individual state legislatures have the sole authority to draft laws and levy taxes regarding the production, sale, possession, and consumption of intoxicating beverages. "We would also not need to set up a separate distribution network across most of the states, and also earn higher revenue per vehicle," an official working with RIL said.

 

An email to the group spokesperson regarding the likely development went unanswered.

 

RIL has already stirred up the non-alcoholic beverages market, primarily consisting of carbonated soft drinks, juices, fruit-based, and water. The oil-to-telecom behemoth has either acquired or partnered with five beverage brands since 2022 through its subsidiary Reliance Consumer Products Ltd. In August 2022, the company acquired Campa Cola from Pure Drinks for INR 220 million, followed by 50% stake in cider-type fruit drink Sosyo in January 2023. It then went on to buy Raskik Gluco Energy in April 2023, and entered the hydration and juice category. It further strengthened its presence in the segment by acquiring Indian rights from Ceylon Beverage International for drinks such as 'Sun Crush' and 'Spinner' in the same month. Finally, it partnered with Sri Lankan beverage maker Elephant House for distribution of drinks in India, including Necto, Cream Soda, EGB (ginger beer), Orange Barley, and Lemonade.

 

Campa achieved gross sales of over INR 47 billion in FY26. "Having challenged decades-long market leadership, it is now India's fourth-largest carbonated soft-drinks brand, with a double-digit market share in key markets. Campa is not merely a brand. It is India ka Thanda," Isha Ambani, managing director of Reliance Retail Ltd. and non-executive director on the Reliance Industries Ltd. board, said at the company's 59th annual general meeting last week.

 

On whether the low alcohol beverages would be sold under the brand name Campa Cola, another official said this was "unlikely", as it would be in interest of the company to keep non-alcoholic beverages and those containing traces of alcohol separate. "It is too early to talk of these things, investment, brand name, as we need to first finalise whether and when to enter this market or not," a senior group official said. "But one thing is certain. If we do, we would want to retain full control and may even look at buying an alcohol manufacturing company."

 

At 1445 IST, shares of Reliance Industries were up 0.2% at INR 1,316.50 on the National Stock Exchange. For the March quarter, the conglomerate reported a consolidated net profit of INR 169.71 billion on revenue of INR 2.99 trillion.  End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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