Patna, November 26: The newly elected Nitish Kumar government is set to ban the sale and consumption of liquor in the state. The CM said on Thursday that he is in the process of formulating laws and policies to ban alcoholic drinks in Bihar. He also said that the laws will come into effect from April 1, 2016. This comes in the wake of the Bihar government’s Excise and Prohibition Minister, Abdul Jalil Mastan had announcement on Monday, about a possible law for liquor ban in the state.
“We will start work to impose a ban on liquor in Bihar. It would be visible in the next six months,” Mastan had told the media here. One of the elections promises of Kumar had also been a ban on liquor and complete prohibition in the state, which he said would be imposed if he retained power in the Assembly elections. According to Mastan, Bihar has a high demand for imposition of prohibition in the state. Women, mostly from Dalit and backward castes, had been at the forefront of protests against rising liquor consumption and demanded a ban on it. Also Read: Anbumani Ramadoss intensifies agitation for liquor ban in in Tamil Nadu
The ban on sale and consumption of alcohol is a prerogative of the state governments in India. Till now, sale and consumption of alcohol is banned in Gujarat, Manipur, Nagaland, as well as the union territory of Lakshadweep. Kerala government has also planned to ban liquor is a phased manner, which is expected to take about 10 years in getting implemented fully. All other Indian states permit alcohol consumption but fix a legal drinking age. Alcohol consumption in India has risen over 55% over a period of 20 years, despite all the restrictions in place.
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