United in spirit, Bihar MLAs back booze ban
PATNA: While passing the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2016, on Wednesday, all members of the state’s Vidhan Sabha unanimously pledged to not consume liquor and motivate others to stay away from it.
“We will behave in accordance with the spirit of the bill and not consume liquor. We will motivate others to get rid of it,” Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary read.
The Bihar government rolled out its plan to ban liquor in the state in a phase-wise manner, starting with a ban on country-made and spiced liquor in rural areas across the state from April 1. In municipal areas and town council areas, only Indian manufactured foreign liquor (IMFL) will be sold through retail outlets of Bihar State Beverage Corporation Limited (BSBCL).
The amended bill has provision for death sentence for those involved in illicit sale or manufactur- ing of liquor, causing death.
Till now, BSBCL was the wholesaler for all kinds of liquor in the state, but now it will also be the sole retailer. Anyone selling liquor without a BSBCL licence will be punished.
“For trade of illicit liquor or packaging of country liquor in IMFL bottles, the punishment could be up to 10 years and ` 1 lakh fine. Drinking at public places or inside shops could also lead to jail term of five to 10 years, besides fine. Even drinking at home and creating nuisance outside could invite penal action,” the CM said.
Kumar said those forcing children to drink and work under intoxication or involving women and children in liquor trade, would invite imprisonment up to 10 years and fine up to `10 lakh. “T he proper ty of those involved with illicit liquor trade would be sealed,” he added.
For the victims of illicit liquor, the government has made a provision of `4 lakh assistance. In case of injury, the assistance will be `20,000.