Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took a brave step by implementing a total prohibition of alcohol in the state from April 1st, 2016. Kumar made this announcement on the Total Prohibition Day, which was observed yesterday.
Nitish Kumar
Speaking at a programme inside Secretariat premises in Patna, Kumar said that by total prohibition, it means complete ban on manufacture and sale of alcohol in the state. However, it is not clear if consumption of alcohol would also be banned.  Liquor Ban was one of the pre-poll promises of the JD(U).
The State Government is expected to loose around Rs. 3500 Crores of revenue due to liquor ban, which accounts for almost 10% of its total revenue. Nitish Kumar, however stated that the revenue loss would be compensated appropriately.
Kumar’s announcement of Liquor Ban has met with positive response from opposition too. BJP Leader Sushil Kumar Modi extended full support in implementing the ban. While, Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan said his party welcomes the decision of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to ban liquor in the state.
“During his previous tenure as chief minister, we saw an increase in liquor prices in the state. The number of liquor shops that were opened in the past 10 years is much higher. It was a matter of worry for all of us. Consumption of alcohol will destroy the coming generation also. So, a wrong tradition was being followed. I’m happy that the Chief Minister has thought of taking such step”, Chirag Paswan was quoted saying.
This is not the first time Liquor Ban has been implemented in Bihar state. In 1977, then Chief Minister Karpuri Thakur had implemented Liquor Ban in the state, however the ban was removed 2 years later during the tenure of RamSundar Das.