Bihar waters down liquor law, first time offence now bailable

PATNA: People caught the first time drinking liquor in Bihar will be allowed to go free after payment of a Rs 50,000 fine, or will spend three months in jail, according to a Bihar government proposal to amend the state’s prohibition law. The proposal was cleared by the state cabinet on Wednesday.

The state cabinet approved on Wednesday the government’s proposal to table an amendment bill in the state assembly during the monsoon session (from July 20) to make changes to the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

Bihar advocate general Lalit Kishore told TOI on Wednesday that a person caught for the first time drinking, or drunk, would be set free on payment of Rs 50,000 as penalty, failing which she/he would face three months in jail. The first liquor offence would also be bailable and non-cognisable. At present, it is a non-bailable offence.


Kishore said the amendments would apply even to pending cases and convictions. “A first-time offender will come out of jail if the person has been in prison for over three months. Those imprisoned for less than three months can also come out either on payment of Rs 50,000 or after being granted bail,” Kishore said.

Kishore said the amendments would also reduce the quantum of punishment. “Second-time and subsequent offenders will be liable to two to five years in jail,” he said.

Regarding punishment for manufacturing and trading in liquor, Kishore said: “The first such offence will invite imprisonment for a minimum of two years and a minimum of 10 years for second and subsequent offences.”