England cricket fans warned against drinking on tour of India

Foreign Office steps up warnings a week ahead of First Test

Don't be caught out: British tourists warned cricket and drink don't mix (Craig Dudley)

The Foreign Office has also issued a specific briefing aimed at cricket fans travelling to India for the Test series, known as the "Barmy Army". The advice urges supporters not to be drunk, to avoid hailing taxis on the street and to leave all valuables, except passports, in the hotel.

Alcohol is a key concern for the British High Commission in Delhi, which prepared the advice specifically for the series. “All match venues reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who is drunk and/or disorderly,” it warns, adding that drink is banned (along with “professional camera/video/audio equipment”) from all the Test grounds.

The Foreign Office warns that five states ban alcohol, include Gujarat, where the First Test takes place: play starts in the city of Rajkot on 9 November. Its advice states: “Consumption or possession of alcohol in prohibited states can lead to arrest without bail and charges which carry a sentence of 5 to 10 years.” Elsewhere, the legal drinking age ranges from 18 to 25.

Travel between the venues could be challenging, according to the Foreign Office. On the railways, “There have been reports of travellers being drugged and robbed on trains often on overnight journeys.”

Anyone tempted to switch to the bus is warned by the US State Department: “They are usually driven fast, recklessly, and without consideration for the rules of the road. Accidents are quite common.”

The Test series continues with matches in Visakhapatnam (starting 17 November), Mohali (28 November) and Mumbai (8 December), with the Fifth and final Test starting in Chennai on 15 December