On Sunday, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party announced that it would lift the liquor ban in Bihar if it wins power. The party argued this would enable the state to generate substantial funding. Since the liquor ban was implemented in April 2016 by the Nitish Kumar government, the state has reportedly lost an estimated ₹28,000 crore. Kishor’s party further believes that this money could enable Bihar to obtain loans from the World Bank and the IMF of ₹5 to 6 lakh crore.
The ban was enacted by Nitish Kumar as a move toward women’s welfare, and to address alcohol as it was perceived to cause families the greatest harm. Surveys conducted over the years show a decline in public drinking, street fights, and alcohol-related violence, particularly in rural areas.
The prohibition also offered a substantial political tool for the JDU, creating a public association with good governance when it was camouflaged through raids and confiscation, as well as when enforced to suppress vices associated with smuggling networks.
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