Prashant Kishor has made a major election promise ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, to lift the state’s liquor ban if his Jan Suraaj Party comes to power. Kishor claimed that ending prohibition could help unlock huge financial resources for the state and revive its economy.

Kishor says ban cost Bihar ₹28,000 crore

According to Kishor’s party, the liquor ban has cost the state government nearly ₹28,000 crore in revenue. The party also claimed that this lost money could have helped Bihar secure loans worth ₹5–6 lakh crore from international financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF.

Kishor said the ban has failed in practice, claiming liquor is still easily available in the state. “The liquor ban will be lifted within an hour once we come to power. There is no real liquor ban in Bihar. There is a law in place that has shut down liquor shops and started home delivery,” he said.

The story of Bihar’s liquor ban

The liquor ban in Bihar was introduced in April 2016 by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The policy aimed to promote women’s welfare, as alcohol abuse was said to have the worst impact on families and women in particular.

The JDU-led government framed the ban as part of its strict governance model, highlighting large-scale raids and crackdowns on smuggling networks as proof of maintaining the “rule of law.” Over time, however, the policy became one of the most debated topics in Bihar’s politics.

Several leaders in Bihar have expressed mixed views on Kishor’s proposal.
Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said the liquor policy should be reviewed, arguing that it unfairly targets poor people. “Poor people, if caught consuming even 250 ml of alcohol, are prosecuted, whereas those involved in large-scale smuggling are let off," he said.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also weighed in, saying, “Any question that arises should be discussed with the people and government officials before a decision is taken.”

A May 2024 study published in The Lancet Regional Health: Southeast Asia found that Bihar’s liquor ban led to a significant drop in alcohol consumption, eliminating nearly 2.4 million cases of daily and weekly drinking.

The study also linked the policy to a reduction of around 2.1 million cases of intimate partner violence, including less emotional and sexual abuse against women.

The other side of the ban

Despite its social benefits, experts say the ban has hurt Bihar’s economy and increased the spread of illicit alcohol, commonly known as “hooch”, which has caused several deaths in the state over the years.

Critics argue that prohibition has created an underground market that benefits smugglers while putting law enforcement under strain.

How other states handle it

Bihar isn’t alone in enforcing prohibition. Gujarat has had a strict alcohol ban since 1961, banning both sale and consumption. Some communities in Gujarat have their own local restrictions; for instance, Khambela village imposes fines of ₹21,000 for drinking and penalties of up to ₹1 lakh for breaking other bans.

In Mizoram, a full alcohol ban was imposed in 2018 to reduce domestic violence and public disorder.