Bihar: Possible Death Penalty for Liquor Traders and Makers

Bihar government introduced an amendment bill in the assembly for death penalty for liqour manufacturers and traders.

The Bihar government has decided to bring in an amendment bill in the Assembly on Wednesday to provide for the death penalty for traders and makers of alcohol in the state. This comes ahead of a phased ban on the manufacture and sale of liquor in the state, as reported by the Business Standard.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had last week announced this development that would take place in the ongoing budget session of the assembly.

Last year, while campaigning for the 2015 Bihar assembly elections, Nitish Kumar announced a ban on alcohol from 1 April.

The state minister said the poorest of the poor were consuming liquor, leading to family problems, domestic violence and affecting their children’s education.

The state government will bring an amendment bill to include the provision of death penalty for manufacturing illicit country liquor after the ban comes into effect in the state from 1 April.

Abdul Jalil Mastan, Bihar Excise and Prohibition Minister

Mastan said manufacture and sale of country and spiced liquor would be banned in the first phase followed by Indian-made foreign liquor later.

Officials say this ban would affect state revenues since Bihar earns an annual revenue of around Rs 3,650 from alcohol sale.

To compensate for the livelihood of the people employed in this business, the government has offered them the option to sell products of the state-run Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation Ltd under the brand name “Sudha Dairy”.