Bihar's Liquor Fine For 1st Time Offenders Reduced, 1 Yr Jail If Caught Twice: Check New Rules

Amending the liquor prohibition law in Bihar, those caught drinking alcohol for the first time would be released after they paid a fine.

The amendment was passed in the Budget session of the state assembly outlining the new fine amount.

Those caught drinking for the first time in the state will be released after paying a fine between Rs 2,000 and 5,000, as decided by the executive magistrate.

Earlier, the fine was Rs 50,000 for first-time offenders, as per an amendment made in 2018.

According to the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amendment 2022, if a first-time offender fails to pay the fine, then they can be imprisoned for a month.

Why the change in alcohol prohibition law

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Over the last few weeks, the Supreme Court has come down heavily on the state government over the prohibition law in Bihar. The Supreme Court slammed the state over piling up liquor cases, especially those regarding bail, in the courts.

After drawing flak, the state government enacted this new amendment and reduced the fine amount so that the legal system in Bihar is not overburdened with liquor cases.

In April 2016, the sale and consumption of alcohol were completely banned by the Nitish Kumar government, in a promise to protect the women of the state.

Those who drink alcohol are 'mahapaapis'

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Recently, Nitish Kumar while speaking in the Bihar Legislative Council said that those who drink are ¡°mahapaapi (sinners)¡± and ¡°not Hindustani¡± (not Indians).

Reacting to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLC Sunil Singh¡¯s demand of dropping cases from drinkers and releasing them from jails, Kumar said, ¡°I would call them mahapaapi. I would say those who are not following Mahatma Gandhi are not even Hindustanis. They are incompetent people.¡± The CM said drinkers would get no legal relief.

The CM also made it clear that the families of those who would die of drinking spurious liquor would get no relief.

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