Old Monk maker Mohan Meakin has agreed to modify the labels on its rum bottles after the Bombay High Court raised questions over the use of the “7 years old blended” claim. The development comes amid an ongoing regulatory dispute involving the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over the labelling and composition of alcoholic beverages.
The Bombay High Court questioned whether the phrase “7 years old blended” on Old Monk bottles could give consumers the impression that the entire spirit inside the bottle had been aged for seven years. The issue came up during proceedings concerning FSSAI action against certain alcoholic beverage products and the way their composition and characteristics are represented on labels.
Mohan Meakin has now agreed to modify the disputed Old Monk bottle label. The company is expected to submit a fresh digitally printed version of the label before the Bombay High Court for its consideration. The proposed change is aimed at addressing concerns over how the product’s ageing and blending information is communicated to consumers.
The Old Monk labelling issue is part of a wider regulatory debate involving FSSAI and the Indian alcoholic beverage industry. The food safety regulator has raised concerns regarding the use of added flavours and the accuracy of product descriptions on liquor packaging. Regulators have emphasised that labels should accurately represent a product’s composition and should not create a misleading impression about its ageing, manufacturing process or ingredients.
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The matter has attracted attention across the Indian alcobev industry, particularly among manufacturers of rum, whisky and other spirits that use terms such as matured, blended, aged and flavoured in their product descriptions. The dispute highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny of liquor labels and the need for brands to ensure that packaging claims are clear and compliant with applicable food safety and labelling requirements.
For Mohan Meakin, the immediate step is to revise the Old Monk label in response to the Bombay High Court’s questions. However, the proposed label modification does not by itself settle the broader regulatory issues being considered in the case. The Bombay High Court is continuing to hear the matter, with the revised label expected to form part of the ongoing proceedings.
Old Monk, one of India’s most recognised rum brands, has built a strong legacy around its distinctive branding and product identity. The latest development puts the spotlight on how age statements, blending terminology and product composition are communicated on liquor bottles, an issue that could have wider implications for the Indian spirits industry as regulatory scrutiny of alcoholic beverage labelling increases.
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