Booze ban to protect women and tots

ALCOHOL is to be banned in India’s third-most populous state in an attempt to rein in crime, especially violence against women.

Prohibition will be introduced to Bihar, northern India, from April 1 next year, after the chief minister said he would honour a pledge made to women’s groups ahead of recent state elections.

“Women in the state started an anti-liquor campaign,” said Nitish Kumar this week.

“Increasing liquor consumption was a major cause of domestic violence, particularly against women, and had contributed to a rise in crimes. I have instructed my officials to start working towards this [ban].”

Prohibition in Bihar will affect almost 100 million people — only Pakistan and Bangladesh’s booze bans affect more.

A handful of other Indian

A move to win support among women

states, including Gujarat and Nagaland, already have alcohol bans, although these tend to be poorly enforced.

Despite an earlier, unsuccessful ban on booze in Bihar from 1977-79, Kumar dismissed concerns that the ban could be flouted or lead to another rise in bootlegging and smuggling activity.

On average, Bihar residents consume 250ml of local spirits every week — one of the highest levels in the country.

Kumar did not specify whether the ban would be limited to the typically potent, home-grown “country liquor”, or all alcoholic beverages.

Kumar’s pledge in July to make Bihar a dry state was seen as a move to win support among women, particularly the “backward” castes.

But few analysts expected the ban to be implemented, given that around 15% of Bihar’s taxes come from excise revenue. — ©