Alcohol on Train

My Friend and I are going to be in India in March and will be going from Amrtisar to Varanasi.

It will be close to a 24 hour train ride, that we are very much looking forward to.

We were wondering what the rules were for alcohol consumtpion. We are not looking to have a party, its just the two of us, but just have a few drinks..

Apparently its not allowed, but how strict are the rules enforced?

Anyone have any experience buying booze or drinking it on long train rides?

Please search the forum, and you'll find posts from people that do.

However, this is from the notice on the train door that I snapped just a couple of days ago. Bad phone pic, I'm afraid, but one can make out the words in red...

Consumption of alcohol and smoking is not allowed in trains in India. You have some information Carrying Liquor In Train.... I have also seen a few people consuming alcohol in trains. However in your case (2 girls) it would / could be a problem, unless you are traveling 2A or 3A and get the side upper and lower berths.

The rules are strictly enforced. If you are caught then be prepared for the consequences.

Don't break the rules would be my advice. I am sure both of you can remain without booze for 24 hours & you will have plenty of other options to drink though in the soft drink category.

Ronak.

Have a look at Beer on Indian trains

I really do not understand why people want to break the rules, would the OP try something like this in Saudi Arabia. I think not. Rules are rules, people do break the rules, just be prepared to face the consequences if someone decides to make a issue out of it.

There are, on this site, so many posts about how to dress "without offending." The fact is that display of female flesh does not offend so much as attract too much positive male attention! There are probably more people who would be offended by drinking alcohol on a train.

Not "aimed" at you, nelhakeem, in any way, partly because I don't think you have joined in conversations about dress, but mainly because it is an entirely general observation about all the dressing/drinking stuff.

Well would be nice if you didnt break the rules and especially if they are girls then it can be really a problem for them.Advice would be just to avoid drinking on while travelling in Trains.

Thanks guys
We will be travelling 1st AC and we have no problems not drinking on the train ride at all. Just thought i'd ask..
NO idea what you guys are talking about in the clothing conversations, but my opionion has always been this :wherever you travel, respect the customs" as simple as that..

what is it? when in rome dress like a roman? hahahah anyway

thanks folks!

In any AC 1st you can try a peg or two. But again it is against the rules.

I'm sure I'll get slaughtered for this reply, but what the hell.

If you just happened to have a half bottle of vodka in your luggage, and you happened to get a 2 berth coupe (unlikely), then who'd know you were drinking.

Something you should think about if drinking in India.

I've traveled a fair bit on Indian trains, in all classes, and had some real interesting conversations, many Indians still believe western women have lower morals than Indian women, and that western women sleep around, and a western women who drinks alcohol, well, they're just the lowest of the low, and drinking alcohol is probably the reason the sleep around.

This kind of thought is more likely in non-AC Sleeper Class, AND First AC. (in my opinion)

You are travelling through Province Punjab, Haryana, UP, and good thing is these states allowed liquor sale. If you have one bottle of liquor it is not against law, but consumption of liquor not allowed. But if you have to travel to Gujrat, there no liquor allowed and for foreign national Special permit is required. Whenever you feel security personal is not behave well, just ask him to talk with his Supervisor.

Enjoy your journey.

Thank you guys for your replies.

We defintely weren't thinking of getting wasted on the train ride! Hahahah now that would be fun! Hhahah, maybe not too fun the next day, hung over

But ya, we probably won't risk it. My travel buddy will be too chicken to anyway (in case we get caught and land in Indian jail or something We will be pretty tame and aren't really looking for trouble or unwanted attention

Steve, you don't think we'll get a two person berth? Do they just give those to travelling spouses? How does that work? I guess thats a question for another forum?

There's only half a carriage of 1A on your train, that's 2 x 4-berth cabins and 1 x 2-berth coupe, so you have very little chance of getting the coupe, more likely it will go to a married couple, or some 'VIP' who presurised the reservation supervisor.

You have a few options.

First, you could apply for the coupe, you do this by first going to see the reservation supervisor at Amritsar station the day before the train departs, but you need a good reason, there is always the dog trick, devious and cunning, but it can work, pay for a small dog (about Rs60) and request a coupe because of the dog, by the time you get to the train, you've already been given the coupe, then just give a reason why you didn't bring the dog, but if there's 'VIP's on the train wanting the coupe, they'll have you out of there.

You could try to persuade the people in the coupe to swap with you, good luck, and if this works, buy a lottery ticket to see if your luck lasts.

The following is going to sound crazy, but here's what I'd do if I were in your situation and really wanted a coupe......(and was sharing a 4-berth cabin with 2 other people)

Have a look at the reservation chart pasted on the train door at Amritsar, look to see who's got berths HA19 & HA20, then see where they're travelling to (if you seriously consider this option, I'll show you how to easily do this), and offer them a swap, they'll get a free upgrade to 1A, and you'll get what is arguably an equivalent of a 1AC coupe.



Berths 1 - 20 are 2A berths, cabins A, B & C are 1A

HA19 & 20 are actually 2A berths on their own, and you get a curtain that you can pull across for privacy, what's good is, very few people walk past, and if they do, they're heading away from your berth towards the door so don't generally catch your curtain.

It sounds a little crazy, but I'd go for the swap if it was me.

The people in 1AC may be great company, I've had my fair share, some who completely refused to talk (and sat reading English Language newspapers), but also some real interesting people.

I have just joined this forum and for some reason I can not create my own thread. Hopefully this is just because I am new!

I have a really odd question. I am planning a visit to Rajasthan, Kerala, and UP from Nepal and I was wondering whether hotels / hostels in India would be upset if I cooked my own food in my hotel room? I am just trying to reduce my costs a wee bit.....