Bihar has achieved a double digit economic growth in last 12-13 years. As a result, rural household incomes have increased significantly. It was observed that a large portion of that income of poor rural households was being splurged on drinking alcohol. This was having an adverse impact on rural health, nutrition, domestic peace and dignity of women. Even youths were becoming addicted to drinking.
Rural women, especially those organized as self help groups had started, in their own smalls ways, localized protests against the spread of liquor and in favour of prohibition. The momentum of such agitations was gaining ground. The demand for prohibition was expressed openly by women of self help groups whenever they got opportunities to do so. In order to create awareness regarding the ill effects of consumption of liquor among the people of the State, the State Government decided in 2011 to mark 26 November as the Prohibition day every year. Slowly but surely the awareness about prohibition spread in rural areas. To encourage the efforts of the Jeevika groups, for making their villages free from alcohol, it was decided to reward such groups and in this process Jeevika groups were awarded in year 2013, 2014 and 2015.
On 9th July 2015, in a State Level Conference of ''Gram Varta'' jointly organized by Women Development Corporation, Bihar and DFID, the women members of Self Help Groups demanded for implementation of prohibition in Bihar. Immediately reacting to their demand, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that, “if we come to power next time, we will implement prohibition.” After the formation of the new government, in the first official programme of Prohibition day on 26 November 2015, CM Nitish Kumar announced that the government was determined to implement prohibition in the State of Bihar and directed the officials to take steps to implement prohibition from 1st April 2016.
In this background, after examining the Excise Policy of 2007, the State Government decided to constitute the New Excise Policy 2015. In the new policy, it was resolved to implement Prohibition in the State in a phased manner. In the first phase, it was decided to ban country liquor in the entire State and foreign liquor in rural areas with effect from 1st April 2016.
The enforcement mechanism was strengthened to implement this policy with full determination. The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police were given the full responsibility to implement prohibition in their district. A social campaign was launched to create awareness regarding prohibition and the ill-effects of alcohol. This social campaign was converted into a mass movement, with the participation of one and all.
Awareness was created though street play, slogans and posters. A resolution was signed, by more than 1 crore 19 lakhs guardians of children studying in government schools, that they will not consume alcohol and motivate other who drink to stay away it. A Gram Samvad program was organized in more than 48000 habitations with the involvement of 4 lakh 70 thousand Jeevika groups and 20 thousand village organizations. At about 9 lakh locations slogans about prohibitions were written in public places.
Letters were written to the Chief Ministers of the neighbouring States requesting for a better coordination between officers of bordering districts and sought their necessary assistance in this drive.
Keeping in view the health requirements and treatment of addicted people, De-addiction centres have been established in all 38 districts. All arrangements for doctors, nurses and counsellors have been made in these centres. Many habitual drinkers and addicts have been visiting these centres and they have been provided with free medical care, medicines and necessary counselling. The scope of these De-addiction centres have been extended to treat other addictions as well keeping in view of our addiction-free campaign.
Effective penal provisions were felt necessary for successful implementation of liquor prohibition. Perusal of Bihar Excise Act 1915, showed that the penal provisions were not in conformity to the present social and economic context and they were not strong enough to control illegal trade of intoxicants effectively. Therefore for ensuring effective implementation of liquor prohibition and for strong control over misuse of intoxicants it was felt imperative to make the penal provisions stringent and effective. In this background amendments were made in the Bihar Excise Act 1915, through the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act, 2016. Members of both houses welcomed this amendment Act and unanimously passed it. Furthermore members of both houses resolved not to drink and motivate those who drink to give up drinking.
On 4th April 2016, Director General of police along with all police officers and constabulary took an oath against consuming liquor and to motivate others who drink, to give up drinking. Similar oath on 5th April 2016, was also taken by all administrative officers and staff, led by Chief Secretary in support of this policy.
Huge public support was received for the government's decision to ban liquor in the State. Women, children and youth both from rural and urban Bihar widely welcomed this initiative. After 1st April, 2016 various social organizations and women groups started demanding that Foreign liquor should also be banned in urban areas and that total liquor prohibition should be imposed in the State. Attempts by the Excise department to open Foreign liquor liquor shops in urban areas was vehemently protested against in several districts, even resulting in law & order situations. In a short time massive public sentiment developed against liquor and public support expanded with each passing day.
Taking cognizance of these objective conditions in form of massive social support and women's groups proactive opposition against opening of foreign liquor shops in urban areas in the State, the Government after due deliberation and taking legal advice, decided to respect the all-round public sentiments by also banning foreign liquor in urban areas and imposing total ban of liquor in the State. The wholesale and retail trade or consumption of foreign liquor was banned in the State on 5th April, 2016.
During this time, legal impediments and operational difficulties were experienced in the implementations of Total Prohibition with a 100 year old Act, therefore it was felt necessary to substitute the old Act with a new Act. The new Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016 was duly passed by the State Legislature and thereafter implemented in the State on Gandhi Jayanti, 2 Oct, 2016.
While drafting the new Act, similar provisions of other State Acts were studied, however it was found that penal provisions in other states were not strong and deterrent enough. Therefore, in order to make an effective law, penal provisions in the Bihar Act were made stringent.
Another significant result of our policy is that since imposition of prohibition, the Distilleries in the State are now producing Ethanol and we have become one of the largest producer of Ethanol in the country.
It is conclusively evident from the above crime data that after the imposition of liquor ban from April 2016 there has been a significant decline in major social crimes. Even cases of domestic violence and ruckus on streets have come down drastically both in rural and urban Bihar. The State Government had to forego a revenue of about Rs. 5000 crore due to prohibition, however the common people of the State are now saving more than Rs. 10,000 crore approximately which they would have otherwise spent on purchase of liquor. This money is now being better utilized for augmenting family’s budget for food, clothing education, consumption needs and other productive purposes. Social dividends of this policy are very high.
It is a revelation to see the deep seated social transformation in Bihar. Experiencing the socio-economic benefits and outcomes, the State Government is more than determined to implement the total prohibition in Bihar in true letter and spirit.
On the 26th Nov, 2016 it was decided to expand the objective of the Prohibition day and to celebrated it as the Intoxication free day from next year. The State Government launched another state-wide social campaign (21st January, 2017 to 22nd March, 2017) for a liquor-free and intoxication-free state. The campaign was launched on 21st January, 2017 through a massive Human-Chain across Bihar, with a participation of approximately 4 crore residents covering more than 12,760 kilometres. This historical and unprecedented event exhibited the true participatory zeal and solidarity of the citizens of the State for a cause. A strong message was relayed to the world by the people of the State about their unstinted and unwavering support to Prohibition and their desire for an intoxication free society.