Why politicians in Bihar are not saying ‘cheers’ to prohibition

In April 2016, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar imposed a total ban on alcohol in the State. “Seeing the tremendous support from the people, particularly women and children, to the ban on country-made liquor in the State within just days of its prohibition, we decided to put a total ban on alcohol,” he had said then. “No new liquor licences will be issued to hotels, bars and clubs.”

A decade later, there are voices from within the ruling dispensation calling for a review of the State’s prohibition policy. The Opposition, too, has questioned the poor implementation of the policy, alleging that it has failed to curb illegal trade of liquor that has flourished in the State. The calls for a review have gotten louder ever since the ruling parties extended their support to the Opposition, putting the State government on back foot that is unable to come up with a spot rebuttal.

Across party lines

Parties such as Hindusanti Awam Morcha (Secular), Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and the third largest constituent of the National Democratic Alliance Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) want a review of the policy that has been very popular among women voters.

The parties are trying to build a perception that the money generated through excise duty on liquor could help the government strengthen the State’s economy. The attempts by the ruling parties are also being seen as a pressure tactic as it is believed that Mr. Kumar may not hold sway on decision making after the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly election by winning 89 seats.

RLM legislator Madhaw Anand, who represents Upendra Kushwaha’s party, raised the issue by highlighting revenue loss. He said the government was not serious about reviewing the ban on liquor, adding that the prohibition law has been amended in the past. “I have called for a detailed review this time. It will discuss all aspects and become clear whether this law is necessary or not,” Mr. Anand said outside the Bihar Assembly.

BJP Minister Lakhendra Kumar Roshan said that if anyone feels that prohibition is not being implemented properly, then the demand for review cannot be ruled out.

Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister and founder of HAM(S), has several times said that only the poor are being arrested in cases involving the illegal sale and consumption of liquor, with the rich getting away. He has also brought up the revenue loss incurred due to prohibition.

LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan has recently said that the prohibition law should be reviewed as its objective is not being achieved and illicit liquor is widely available.

Last week, the Patna High Court, while giving an order in a case related to prohibition, observed that lives of citizens were at risk due to the failure of the State machinery to effectively implement prohibition.

Liquor mafia

Ever since alcohol was banned in the State, the illegal mafia has been finding novel ways to smuggle in liquor. Police have seized liquor bottles from a coffin in an ambulance, in septic tanks, in LPG cylinders, tyres, pantry cars of trains, and from pick-up van stacked with potatoes and onions.

Of late, the police and excise department officials have been raiding hideouts of liquor smugglers, even getting attacked and beaten up by them. Hundreds of policemen and excise department officials have been suspended for hobnobbing with bootleggers.

Earlier this week, RJD MLC Sunil Singh challenged the government saying liquor smuggling is so rampant in Bihar that “it can be delivered on the premises of Legislative Council”.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National Working President Tejashwi Yadav said there was a shortage of funds and the State government was struggling to pay the salaries of its employees after freebies were announced by the government before the election.

That liquor is readily available in the State could be gauged from the fact that between April 2016, when prohibition was imposed, and December 2025, more than 4.50 crore litres of liquor have been seized, 16 lakh people arrested, 1.60 lakh vehicles impounded, and 10 lakh cases registered. The data was shared by Minister Ashok Choudhary in the Legislative Council recently.

Not only alcohol, other forms of substance abuse are also posing a challenge to the State government. This issue was raised in the Bihar Legislative Council. Among narcotics, 15,800 kg of ganja, 240 kg of opium, 3.5 kg of hashish and 40,000 litres of cough syrup have been seized. In September 2025, a separate unit of Prohibition and State Narcotics Control Bureau was set up for which 88 posts have been created to deal with narcotics and prohibition.

Last year, BJP leader Raj Kumar Singh, a former Union Minister, had said that prohibition has led to the youth “spoiling themselves” through other forms of addiction and involvement in illegal trade of liquor to “earn a quick buck”. He had suggested abolishing it through proper means.

Revenue losses

According to a report of PRS Legislative Research, a Delhi-based non-profit organisation, liquor was the primary source of State excise duty. Between 2012-13 and 2015-16, revenue from State excise duty had ranged between 0.8%-1% of GSDP.

In 2015-16, the State government earned ₹3,142 crore from State excise duty, which came down to ₹30 crore in 2016-17, and has become negligible since then. In comparison, in 2022-23, States on average budgeted revenue of about 1% of GSDP from State excise duty.

As per a Patna-based economist, there is a market of at least ₹20,000 crore of illegal sale of liquor in Bihar.

Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has said that the State is suffering from economic losses due to prohibition, claiming that a parallel economy of illicit liquor trade worth ₹40,000 crore operates in Bihar.

Despite the repeated demand and deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor, the Chief Minister has always remained firm on prohibition, refusing to make any relaxation. This time, his allies may not raise a toast.

Published – March 01, 2026 04:52 pm IST