JD(U) says no review of Bihar liquor ban, dismisses Manjhi's Gujarat model call

The Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday ruled out any review of Bihar's liquor prohibition law, a day after Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi suggested overhauling the enforcement on the lines of Gujarat's model. The party, an ally in the NDA government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, asserted that the law introduced in April 2016 under then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has brought significant social benefits.

Senior JD(U) leader and MLC Neeraj Kumar told PTI, "There is no question of review of the prohibition law which was implemented during the tenure of our leader Nitish Kumar. I must say that prohibition law has brought significant changes in the lives of rural women. Not only that, the prohibition law, which was implemented in the State by the then CM Nitish Kumar, was even appreciated by PM Modi."

The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, bans the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol in the state. The law has been a defining policy of Nitish Kumar, who has repeatedly defended it as a measure to improve social welfare, particularly for women and families affected by alcohol abuse.

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha and is a former chief minister of Bihar, recently highlighted loopholes in the law's implementation. "Due to flaws in the law's implementation, moral lapses are increasing. I would urge Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to consider implementing the Gujarat model of prohibition in Bihar," he said on Monday.

Gujarat has a total prohibition regime, but critics point to widespread illegal liquor trade and corruption in its enforcement. The JD(U) has rejected any comparison, insisting that Bihar's model is distinct and has yielded positive outcomes.

However, the law has faced criticism from economic researchers. A recent paper by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), titled 'Macro perspective of Bihar's development achievements: Unfinished agenda and the way forward', noted that prohibition has caused significant revenue losses to the state exchequer. It estimated that lifting the ban could boost state revenue by 14 to 15 per cent. The paper also claimed that the law has led to "an increase in liquor trade, bootlegging, and higher consumption of alternative intoxicants."

The RJD, which supported the prohibition law when it was enacted, also expressed concerns about its implementation. Leader Bhai Birendra said, "Despite the prohibition law in Bihar, liquor sales have increased in the state while some white-collar individuals and those in khaki have all enriched themselves. However, we had endorsed the liquor prohibition law back when it was implemented, and even today, we are in favour of prohibition. Its implementation should be strengthened."

The debate over prohibition comes amid broader political positioning ahead of future elections. While the JD(U) remains firm on its stand, the NDA's internal dynamics and the opposition's criticism have brought the issue into sharper focus. Nitish Kumar, now a Union Minister after resigning as chief minister earlier this year, has not directly commented on the current row.

Prohibition remains a politically sensitive subject in Bihar, where the social costs of alcohol abuse are weighed against economic losses and questions of personal liberty. The JD(U)'s assertion suggests the policy will remain in place for the foreseeable future, even as critics demand a more pragmatic approach.