A rethink is out of the question, Nitish Kumar said, adding that the loss of revenue can't be the reason for a ban in phases. (PTI photo)
Nitish Kumar today rejected speculation of only a partial ban on liquor in Bihar and said there would be "complete prohibition" in the state from April next year.
The Chief Minister, speaking to reporters, said his officers are working on a comprehensive Bihar Excise policy.
Prohibition was the first major announcement by Mr Kumar after he was sworn in as Chief Minister for the fifth time last month following an emphatic election victory. It was a promise he had made at a public event in April to a group of angry women who had complained about liquor addiction in villages.
"These women are correct about alcohol. If I come to power, I will have it stopped," Mr Kumar had said then.
Reports had suggested that because of the huge revenue loss involved, the state government was considering a ban on only country liquor to start with.
The Bihar government earned nearly Rs. 3,500 crore last year through taxes on the sale of alcohol, sources say.
A rethink is out of the question, Nitish Kumar said, adding that the loss of revenue can't be the reason for a ban in phases.
"It is easier to announce such a decision than enforce it, but seeing the enthusiasm and excitement among women over this announcement, we've decided to go ahead," said the Chief Minister.
He said that the biggest challenge in enforcing an alcohol ban was smuggling from neighbouring states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal.
The excise department went into an overdrive in 2007 following a new policy and started issuing licences for marketing liquor across the state.
In the year 2014-15, the government raked in Rs 3,650 crore in revenues, a growth of more than 10 times over Rs 319 crore recorded in 2005-06.