Patna: Women’s safety, empowerment and broader socio-economic challenges have long been central concerns in Bihar and the state’s prohibition policy appears to have significantly influenced both. Since the enforcement of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act in April 2016, several studies indicated notable improvements in household well-being, financial stability and gender dynamics.Data from a comprehensive statewide survey published in 2023 highlights the scale of women’s support and the changes they experienced. An overwhelming 99% of women expressed approval of the prohibition policy with support nearly identical across rural and urban areas. The survey, which included over 5.47 lakh women respondents, reflects near-unanimous backing from women across Bihar.Beyond support, women have reported tangible improvements in their daily lives. Around 40% of respondents observed greater freedom and dignity for women to step out of their homes for work and other activities. Nearly 87% of respondents reported an increase in household income, while 72% said money previously spent on liquor is now being used for children’s education. Around 54% noted greater spending on nutritious food, and 74% observed families spending more quality time together.These striking figures emerge from a comprehensive official survey conducted by Chanakya National Law University (panchayati raj chair), Patna, with the help of JEEViKA, A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies and DMI, and funded by the prohibition and excise department, govt of Bihar.The survey covers all 38 districts, 534 blocks, 7,968 gram panchayats and 33,805 villages and wards. It surveyed 10,22,467 respondents in total — 4,74,881 men (4,69,157 rural and 5,724 urban) and 5,47,586 women (5,40,243 rural and 7,343 urban).Social analyst and former head of the economics department at Patna University, Professor NK Choudhary, said prohibition must be assessed not just in economic terms but through its social impact. He added that while there may be revenue losses and some employment impact, the broader social costs of liquor, particularly on women in terms of exploitation and oppression, are far more significant.In his view, the social benefits outweigh these costs, as many people have reduced or quit drinking, especially in rural areas, leading to improved conditions in villages. “Women in general have benefited, resulting in larger participation, and women voting undeterred for the govt. What former CM Nitish Kumar did for women, this has been one big factor in election. The increase in his vote bank has been driven by women,” Choudhary said.He added, “No law is ever fully implemented — but a large number of people have quit and they have accepted it.”While one report says majority of men in Bihar who consumed liquor before the imposition of prohibition in April 2016 have stopped drinking, others however differ with a Patna university study suggesting that 58 % of Patnaites have easy access to alcohol, often at twice the earlier market price. Much of this underground trade is controlled by organised syndicates.Before the ban, 45% of rural men and 49% of urban men reported consuming liquor.While the Excise department says out of 2,16,553 men surveyed who drank before the ban, 2,07,051 stopped after prohibition was imposed, but many disagree due to free availability of liquor in the black market and record number of alcohol seizures across Bihar.Studies published in The Lancet suggest strict regulation or prohibition of liquor, such as in Bihar, can significantly curb consumption and related harms. These findings indicate a reduction in frequent drinking by about 7.1 percentage points and estimate such policies can prevent nearly 2.4 million cases of weekly liquor consumption.Former director of the A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, D M Diwakar, called for caution while evaluating the prohibition policy. He argues macro indicators must be examined first: Bihar remains India’s most malnourished state, ranks at the bottom in literacy, and shows stark income disparities — Patna’s per capita income is around Rs 1,14,000 while the state average is about Rs 32,000, with many districts (12) between Rs 20,000-25,000 and only two above Rs 40,000.Diwakar questioned the govt survey’s claims of majority of men quitting liquor and raised doubts whether the data accounts for ongoing black-market supply and home delivery in remote areas through borders as Bihar is a landlocked state.He cautioned against linking women’s empowerment solely to prohibition, pointing to other long-running schemes such as the girls’ bicycle programme and Jeevika groups. He however, acknowledged visible reductions in street disturbances and domestic abuse. “But if one wants to quantify the consumption of liquor and its reduction in terms of data, I think the methodology should be checked a little,” Diwakar said.
