Bihar’s partial liquor ban takes effect from today
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In an attempt to fulfill its poll promise and rid the state from the evils of ‘alcohol consumption’, Nitish Kumar led Bihar Government has banned the sale of liquor in the state from today.
Unlike the state of Gujarat, however, the ban is not absolute in nature. The ban only applies to country liquor. Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) would be available for sale at over 600 outlets across the state.
Although the State Government is expected to lose over Rs. 2000 crore in revenue due to the ban, Bihar CM justified the Government’s stance by saying,
“We are doing it for a social cause and to save millions of households where women are subjected to domestic violence and family disintegration, besides facing social and health costs.”
The Government’s Excise (Amendment) Bill 2016 also recommends a death penalty for those engaged in sale and manufacture of illicit liquor. The fines and jail terms for other drinking related offences will also be increased.
In addition to the ban, the Government has also made the State owned Bihar State Beverage Corporation Limited (BSBCL) as the sole retailer of IMFL across the state.
While the state may lose some prospective projects involving the setup of liquor manufacturing units, the Government will surely benefit in the form of woman vote banks who have unanimously welcomed the ban.
