A Bengaluru resident ended up receiving more than triple the amount he paid at a liquor store after taking legal action over an unexpected charge for a carry bag.
The issue began when 31-year-old Praveen B. from St. Thomas Town shopped at Tonique liquor store on November 23, 2023. After buying beverages worth ₹1,585, he was charged ₹14.29 for a carry bag that had Tonique’s branding all over it.
Praveen felt this was unfair and filed a complaint with the Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Court. His argument was simple: why should customers pay for a bag that also advertises the store?
The court agreed, calling Tonique’s actions “unprofessional and unfair.” They ruled that charging for a branded bag amounts to an unfair trade practice.
As a result, the court ordered Tonique to:
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Refund ₹14.29 for the bag
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Pay ₹5,000 to Praveen as compensation
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Contribute ₹1 lakh to the Consumer Welfare Fund as a penalty
This ruling could set an important precedent, reminding businesses not to pass on the cost of their own advertising to customers.
