After the NDA’s sweeping victory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, speculation had intensified over whether the government would reconsider the state’s prohibition law. Amid concerns about revenue losses and implementation challenges, the government has now made its position clear. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s close aide and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary has categorically stated that there will be no dilution or compromise on the liquor ban.
The minister said that when the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act was implemented in 2016, the government was fully aware of the potential revenue loss. “Despite knowing the financial implications, the law was enacted with the objective of social reform. Consumption of alcohol was declared an offence, and the government treated it as a social evil,” he said.
Chaudhary emphasized that viewing prohibition solely through the lens of revenue would be misguided. According to him, the decision was taken keeping in mind its broader social and familial impact. He asserted that despite the revenue deficit, the state has performed well across various development indicators.
However, voices within the NDA have periodically called for a review of the law. During the Budget Session, RLM MLA Madhav Anand urged the Chief Minister to reassess the implementation of prohibition.
Meanwhile, senior NDA ally and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has on several occasions said that while the objective of the law is commendable, improvements are needed in its enforcement. He has pointed to instances of action against innocent individuals and administrative shortcomings.
Opposition parties continue to allege that the illegal liquor trade persists in the state and that smuggling has not been fully curbed. They argue that the government is being forced to rely on alternative sources to compensate for revenue losses.
Despite the political debate, the government’s official stance remains firm: the prohibition law will continue. Chaudhary’s statement signals that the Nitish Kumar government is in no mood to roll back one of its flagship policies.
