India, Bihar: The Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar, Mr. Nitish Kumar, took a strong decision Today to impose total prohibition of alcohol in the state. The ban on both foreign and domestic liquor comes into effect today. Earlier, the government had decided to enforce a ban only on country-made liquor but today, the chief minister included IMFL (foreign liquor) under the ban as well. Kumar added that no hotels or bars would be allowed to serve alcohol.

On March 31, the Bihar Assembly had unanimously passed the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill 2016 to enforce the ban on countrymade liquor from April 1. The 1915 liquor Bill was amended to incorporate stricter penal provisions, including death sentence, for manufacturers and distributors of illicit liquor in the event of a hooch tragedy. In a rare show of solidarity, all MLAs including Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Nitish Kumar and Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar had risen from their seats and resolved that they won’t drink and would discourage others from doing so as well.

Speaking at the Assembly March 31, Kumar said the liquor ban had received overwhelming response from women. “I was addressing a public gathering at Paliganj. Resounding claps conveyed the public response to the liquor ban,” he said. Bihar on Tuesday would become the fourth state in India to impose a total prohibition of alcohol.