Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, March 30: The Bihar Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2022. In this bill, a provision has been made for punishment for the consumption of liquor. The Bill empowers the state government to prescribe certain punishments for this category of offences.
The bill allows the state government to impose fines and imprisonment (for repeat offenders) for consuming alcoholic beverages. The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, is being amended by this bill. The Act also makes it illegal in Bihar to use alcohol or intoxicants.
The Nitish Kumar government decided to propose the Bihar Liquor Prohibition Bill 2022 in the state Assembly in response to criticism of the liquor ban.
The modification makes it possible for first-time offenders to obtain bail from the duty magistrate after paying a fine. If the offender fails to pay the fee, he or she will be sentenced to one month in prison. When an offender is apprehended by the police for violating the restriction, the accused is required to reveal the name of the person from whom the liquor was received.
Notably, in April 2016 the Bihar Chief Minister imposed a liquor ban in the state through the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act. After the ban, a large number of people have been lodged in jails only for liquor consumption.
