Patna: Alcohol will be banned in Bihar from April 1 next year, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced on Thursday, fulfilling a promise he had made to a group of angry women before the Assembly elections in the state. “In 1977-78 we tried to impose prohibition but it was not effective. But I feel women are suffering more than others because of alcohol abuse… I have instructed my officials to start working towards this and implement my directive from the next financial year,” Kumar said at a function. This is the first major announcement by Kumar since he was sworn in as Chief Minister for the fifth time last week after a spectacular election victory. However, the CM did not elaborate on his announcement and the real impact can be determined only after the details are out. There is also little clarity whether only country liquor would be banned.
Nonetheless, shares of liquor manufacturers took a beating on Thursday. Prominent among these were Diageo-controlled United Spirits, UP-based Radico Khaitan and United Breweries. The state earns revenue of Rs 400 crore annually from liquor sale. Gujarat, Nagaland, Manipur (in some parts), and Lakshadweep have banned liquor while Kerala has been implementing the ban in phases.
