Chirag Paswan calls for review of Bihar’s liquor ban

Union Minister Chirag Paswan has called for a review of Bihar’s decade-old prohibition law , saying its implementation must be tightened by identifying and plugging loopholes rather than lifting the liquor ban.

Speaking in Patna, Paswan said the law should be assessed to determine whether it has achieved its objectives. He clarified that a review does not mean withdrawal of prohibition, but is necessary to improve enforcement. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief reiterated his support for curbing alcoholism and recalled that his party had backed the ban introduced in 2016 by the Janata Dal (United) government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar .

However, he flagged recurring hooch tragedies and allegations of illegal supply, saying such incidents point to gaps in enforcement that need urgent correction.

Prohibition in Bihar and Gujarat has produced mixed results — reducing visible consumption in some areas but also leading to illicit trade, spurious liquor deaths and loss of excise revenue.

In contrast, states without prohibition earn substantial revenue from liquor. In 2023–24, Uttar Pradesh collected about ₹39,600 crore in excise duty, Maharashtra ₹37,000 crore, Andhra Pradesh ₹27,000 crore, Karnataka ₹19,500 crore and Tamil Nadu ₹17,000 crore, underscoring the fiscal trade-off in the prohibition debate.

The issue was also raised during the Bihar Assembly’s Budget session, with JD(U) ruling out any reconsideration while BJP leaders have offered mixed reactions.