After an impressive election win, the Nitish Kumar government is dithering on fulfilling its promise to end alcohol consumption, production and sale in Bihar.
Two months after announcing plans to ban the sale of alcohol, an election promise made to women voters, the Bihar government is finding it hard to enforce prohibition and is likely to miss the deadline of April 26, when the ban would have come into effect.
The issue of prohibition in certain Indian states has been a point of discussion for a while now - especially in the mainstream media. Different states have implemented the prohibition laws to varying degrees. While some have been successful, others have failed.
Alcohol prohibition in India is in force in the states of Gujarat, Nagaland, parts of Manipur as well as in the Union territory of Lakshadweep while all other Indian states and Union territories permit the sale of liquor.
Looking back at the success, or the failure of alcohol bans in states, in 1996, Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) before assembly elections banned consumption, sale and production. The ban cost the state treasury Rs 12 billion in excise revenue and led to a loss of 20,000 jobs in brewing, distilling and retailing of alcoholic drinks.
In addition, 40,000 truckers, farmers and bottle producers experienced a substantial decrease in their earnings. Illicit brewing and liquor smuggling became one of the biggest industries in the state. Haryana's tourism industry suffered badly as tourists preferred to visit neighbouring states where there was no prohibition. Profits of most hotels and restaurants, including the state-owned Haryana Tourism Resorts, suffered. As a result, HVP lifted the ban in 1998.
Many believe it's a social issue - the problem isn't alcohol, but its abuse. There needs to be a demarcation between the consumption of alcohol and alcoholism, which results in crimes and excesses against women.
Then, does prohibition or ban really tackle the problem at hand? It only increases social and economic burden on the state in terms of loss of revenue, unemployment, and deterioration in law and order.
