Bihar Legislature passes Bill on partial liquor ban

A Bill, providing for up to capital punishment to those manufacturing or trading illicit liquor, was unanimously passed by both the houses of Bihar Legislature on Wednesday. The Legislature also adopted a resolution unanimously that its members will not consume liquor.

“Charity begins at home. If we are making a law, then we should unanimously pass a resolution from here itself. The message of unity in the form of a resolution that we will neither drink and nor promote drinking should go out to the people,” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said while intervening on Excise Minister Abdul Jalil Mastan’s reply during a debate on the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

In the first phase, there will be a complete prohibition in rural areas besides a complete ban on country-made liquor across the state, while IMFL will be sold in limited areas of the state i.e. municipal corporations and councils.