Bihar’s alcohol prohibition, imposed nine years ago to tackle addiction and domestic violence among its poorest families, remains fraught with challenges. The state's efforts to curb illegal alcohol sales have not yielded the intended results, revealing a complex issue that transcends simple enforcement.
This past October, BBC reporters observed Bihar officials conducting raids on bootleggers, highlighting gaps in the implementation of the law. Though meant to suppress the illegal liquor trade, the statewide ban has inadvertently contributed to a thriving black market.
Equipped with a sniffer dog, excise officers raided a makeshift distillery on the banks of the Ganges, encountering a setup with metal drums for fermenting jaggery into liquor. Upon arrival, the officers found that the producers had fled, a common occurrence attributed to advance warnings about impending raids.
Despite the ongoing conflicts, local government officials assert the law's effectiveness by citing substantial statistics—1.1 million cases registered and 650,000 convictions since the ban’s implementation. However, more than 99% of these convictions relate to consumption rather than the production, sale, or transport of illicit alcohol.
The issue is exacerbated by Bihar’s geography, bordered by states that allow alcohol sales, which facilitates smuggling operations. Furthermore, the law's efforts have sometimes resulted in only a temporary halt in illicit production before operations resume.
While some women, particularly those who have lost loved ones to alcohol abuse, support the continuation of the ban, others express frustration over its ineffectiveness. Women like Lalmunni Devi and Neetu Devi recount the hardships caused by their husbands' alcohol-related deaths, advocating for stricter enforcement against illegal manufacturing.
The ongoing battle against the black market in Bihar reflects a broader challenge faced by other Indian states with similar prohibition efforts. Prior bans in states like Gujarat and Mizoram have revealed the complexities and unintended consequences of such policies, raising questions about the effectiveness of prohibition as a long-term solution.
