New Delhi: A doctor’s prescription will now be required to purchase medicines containing more than 12 percent alcohol. In a significant decision, the Government of India has classified medicines with an alcohol content exceeding 12 percent under the ‘Schedule H1’ category. Medicines placed in the Schedule H1 category cannot be purchased without a medical prescription; furthermore, retailers selling them are required to maintain sales records. This government decision will directly impact various cough syrups and tonics, as cough syrups often contain alcohol. Previously, one could simply walk into a shop and buy cough syrup by name, but following this change, a doctor’s prescription will be mandatory.
Crackdown on the misuse of medicines for intoxication
Medicines containing alcohol are frequently misused for intoxication. Reports of large-scale smuggling of codeine-based cough syrups across various states have also surfaced. To curb this practice, the government has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, to introduce this change. This move follows incidents last year where several children died in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh due to cough syrup consumption. A draft proposal regarding this was released for public review in October 2025, and public opinion was sought. As no objections were raised, the government consulted the Drugs Technical Advisory Board and finalized the measure into law.
What is Schedule H1?
Schedule H1 is a category under India’s Drugs and Cosmetics Act that includes prescription medicines requiring strict monitoring. Under this category, pharmacies are mandated to maintain sales records and preserve the doctor’s prescriptions. With the new amendment, all oral medicines (medicines taken by mouth) containing more than 12 percent alcohol—sold in packs or bottles larger than 30 milliliters—will fall under the purview of Schedule H1.
