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India's eastern state of Bihar to ban alcohol from April next year

Xinhua, November 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

The eastern Indian state of Bihar will ban alcohol from April next year. This was announced by the state's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Thursday.

"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 this from the next financial year," the Chief Minister said.

The announcement came nearly six months after Kumar had faced massive protests at a function from women, who protested against country liquor addiction in villages. He had then assured them that if he returned to power, he would ban alcohol.

Alcohol is already banned in the western Indian state of Gujarat, also the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Manipur, and in central government-controlled territory of Lakshwadeep. Endit