The government cannot curtail the right to consume alcohol as it has been defined as 'food' under the Food Safety and Standards Act. This argument raised during the hearing on petitions seeking change in State's prohibition law prompted Gujarat High Court to seek an explanation from the government.Further hearing on the case will be held on March 28.Five petitions including a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the High Court challenging the prohibition law in the State. The pleas contend that people of the State have a right to consume liquor in their houses under the Right to Privacy as per the verdict issued by the Supreme Court.On Friday, when the matter came up for hearing, lawyers of the petitioners contended that alcohol falls under the definition of 'food' as pet the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and hence the government cannot curtail the right to consume it.After hearing the arguments, a bench of acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav issued notices to the state government and advocate general. This is the first time since the filing of the first petition that the court has sought an explanation from the government. Earlier, the government was just asked to clear its stand, but no notice was issued."The court heard our pleas, issued notices to the government and advocate general before posting further hearing on March 28," confirmed Bandish Soparkar, whose client had first challenged the prohibiton law on the basis of 'Right to Privacy' four months ago.The petition did not challenge the entire prohibition law but the portion that bans consumption of liquor at home or in private places. It has also not challenged the restriction on manufacture of liquor.