Is It Illegal to Have Empty Bottles of Alcohol?

Recently, several individuals including actresses and models have been arrested in raids by law enforcement agencies. At that time drugs including foreign alcohol were seized from their possession. On August 4, RAB raided actress Pori Moni’s house in Banani and seized a large quantity of foreign alcohol. Pori Moni’s lawyer later claimed in court that Pori Moni had left empty bottles of alcohol as decoration. The question then is whether it is illegal to keep empty bottles of alcohol?

However, lawyers and law enforcement officials say it is not illegal to keep empty bottles of alcohol in possession.

Khandaker Al Moin, commander of the RAB's legal and media wing, said it was not illegal to keep empty bottles of alcohol. When we conduct raids, we can seize anything with illegal items if necessary. We can also seize the mobile phones of those concerned. Later, if court orders, we give it back to them.

The RAB official said that an empty bottle of alcohol means two things. One is that they keep it to have water to drink. Another is that they had drunk alcohol and left it empty. You cannot drink water from 130 bottles anyway. And there were 19 bottles of pure alcohol in Pori Moni's house. The case has been filed but only for 19 bottles of liquor. Didn't sue for empty bottles.

On the other hand, Supreme Court lawyers say it would not be a crime to keep empty bottles of liquor. The bottom line is that no one can be convicted just for an empty bottle. There is no problem even if you keep it empty after drinking alcohol.

It is to be noted that according to the Narcotics Control Act-2018, alcohol has been included as a class B drug. A section of the law states that if the amount of drugs is more than 10 kg or liter and 100 kg or liter, the minimum 3 to 5 years imprisonment and fine will be effective.