Leaders from parties allied with the ruling coalition have called on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to reconsider the decade-old prohibition policy in the state, citing financial losses and implementation concerns.

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said the principle of prohibition was not wrong but its enforcement had serious flaws. He alleged that while smaller offenders were being caught, large-scale smugglers often escaped action, and urged stronger measures and a policy review.

According to reports cited in the discussion, the ban imposed in 2016 has led to over 8.4 lakh cases and nearly 12.8 lakh arrests, while the state has also faced revenue concerns. Before prohibition, Bihar earned more than ₹3,000 crore annually from liquor sales.

Some legislators suggested conducting a comprehensive assessment of gains and losses over the past decade, arguing illegal supply and substance abuse still persist.

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