India's Bihar state bans liquor

The local government in India's eastern state of Bihar on Tuesday announced a blanket ban on sale and consumption on liquor.

"In the first four days of the ban on country liquor it has become a social movement and in this context an atmosphere has been created where young men, women and children are coming forward in the movement to seek ban on alcohol," Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar told media.

"I feel this is the right time for social change in Bihar."

The state government had earlier announced that the ban would be enforced gradually across the state in the next six months. But Kumar preponed the deadline on Tuesday.

The decision to put a complete ban on all types of liquor throughout the state was taken by the state cabinet presided by Kumar.

"Earlier, the government has taken decision to ban country made liquor in the state from April 1. Now, foreign liquor will also be banned with immediate effect," Kumar said.

The ban was one of Kumar's election campaign promises during last year's local elections in the state.

Bihar will become the fourth state to completely ban alcohol in India.

Alcohol is completely banned in the western state of Gujarat, and northern eastern states of Manipur and Nagaland. It is also partially banned in a few other states.

Reports said on Friday, Bihar's 243 lawmakers solemnly vowed to "stay away from alcohol." Subsequently on Monday, thousands of policemen lined up and pledged not to drink alcohol and to enforce prohibition successfully.

Officials said with the new law in place, production, sale and business of all types of liquor have been banned in the state.

"About 1.3 million litres of liquor has been destroyed so far throughout the state and many persons have been arrested following violation of law in this regard," India's state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) quotes Kumar as saying.

Analysts say the ban would affect the state's revenue on account of tax collection on alcohol. Endit