Bihar has been a dry state for the past nine years, at least on paper. Bihar’s alcohol ban was a dramatic alteration, as it was the least expected of all states to impose such a ban.. But the road to alcohol ban in Bihar isn’t as simple as it looks. 

Back in 2008, Nitish Kumar liberalized Bihar’s liquor policy to give wings to the state revenue. But just after eight years, Nitish Kumar took a U-turn and put a blanket ban on the sale, consumption, and production of alcohol in Bihar. 

So, what happened during these eight years, and what was the main reason for Nitish Kumar’s bold move? Let’s find out through this blog post. 

2015 Election and the Promise of an Alcohol Ban in Bihar

To understand the reason behind Nitish Kumar’s U-turn, we have to dig into the roots of the 2015 Bihar election. It’s necessary because the idea of liquor ban in Bihar was first coined during the rallies of the 2015 election campaign.

The Women’s Vote Factor 

The 2015 election in Bihar witnessed a massive sweep in power as the Mahagathbandhan won 178 seats. RJD won 80 seats while JDU emerged as the second largest party with 70 seats. Even Congress won 19 out of the 29 contested seats. 

Nitish Kumar’s main agenda was “bijli, sadak and pani”. He also promised to focus on skill development, education, youth employment, and women’s empowerment. Among all these promises, women’s empowerment became a masterstroke for Nitish. 

During the 2015 elections, Bihar witnessed something that had never happened before: women voters outnumbered men in the 2nd and 3rd phases. It wasn’t a surprise for Nitish Kumar, as he promised to roll out many new policies after returning to the CM seat. The list of promises included:-

• 35% reservation for women on the post of police constable 
• 35% reservation on all government jobs 
• 50% reservation for women in Panchayat elections 

Among all these polices, the one that took everyone’s fancy was the alcohol ban in Bihar. Women from different parts of Bihar pleaded with Nitish to ban alcohol. The main reason behind this plea was domestic abuse and financial draining because of their husbands’ alcohol addiction.

Why Was Alcohol Banned in Bihar?

Before the 2015 elections, Nitish had already served as CM of Bihar for 14 years, and had worked on uplifting the “Womaniya” power of Bihar through various reforms and policies. One such policy that’s still a highlight of Nitish Kumar’s tenure is the “Cycle Yojna” policy, which he rolled out in 2006. 

Nitish Kumar was aware of the power of women voters and how they can turn the tides during elections in his favor. His intentions were good, as empowering Bihari women was an indispensable demand of dying Bihar. And when women came with cases of alcohol abuse and financial stability on the brink of collapse, Nitish knew what he had to do: a complete alcohol ban in Bihar.  

Alcohol is banned in Bihar to stop domestic violence against women and to stop men from spending money on liquor. This way, families can have a financially stable, peaceful, and healthy life. 

Nitish Kumar’s intention behind this dramatic move was good, but soon the liquor ban in Bihar turned out to be a disaster. Well, that’s a different topic. 

Will the Alcohol Ban Be Lifted in Bihar?

The chances are grim, and it all boils down to the 2025 Bihar election. The memories of a single party winning the majority of seats in Bihar have faded, and as long as Nitish is in power, the dream of booze and barbeque will never come true. 

Even if parties like the BJP or the RJD come to power, the chances of lifting the alcohol ban are not clear, as none of these parties have made any statements in this regard. The only party that has promised to lift the alcohol ban in Bihar is the Jan Suraj Party led by Prashant Kishor. 

Conclusion 

During the 2015 assembly elections in Bihar, Nitish knew that a ban on the sale, consumption, and production of alcohol was the need of the hour. He didn’t step back from his promise to the harassed women of Bihar. Flying high on the policies and promises of Nitish Kumar’s election plane, women helped Nitish come back in power. 

But in the long run, women had to go through the same alcohol related turmoil in their lives because the ban on liquor in Bihar was confined to paper only. In actuality, liquor was being delivered to doorsteps with a higher price tag. 

The intentions were good, but the intent was lacking, and that’s why the main reason behind the liquor ban in Bihar is still an issue for society and the women dealing with domestic violence. 

FAQs

Q. Is alcohol ban in Bihar?

 Yes, alcohol is banned in Bihar. You can’t sell, consume, or produce any form of alcohol in Bihar, whether it is whiskey, beer, tequila, or any other form of beverage in the liquor category. 

Q. Why is liquor banned in Bihar?

Liquor was banned in Bihar to get rid of domestic violence faced by women of Bihar and also to stop men from spending money on liquor when they are already dealing with financial constraints. 

Q. Is beer banned in Bihar

Yes, any form of alcohol, including beer, is banned in Bihar

Q. Which year was alcohol banned in Bihar?

Alcohol was banned in Bihar in 2016. 

Q. Which CM banned alcohol in Bihar?

Nitish Kumar banned alcohol in Bihar as it was a part of his 2015 election promises. 

Q Is Bihar a dry state?

Yes, Bihar is a dry state. Buying, selling, or producing alcohol in Bihar is punishable.