This article seeks to analyse how Bihar’s prohibition policy is oscillating between hypocrisy and moralism and how the act of ban is turning out to be a big failure, legally and socially, because of illicit liquor selling and rising consumption. Farces in the name of prohibition are choking the legal structure and jail system because of a huge number of cases related to violations of liquor laws.
In an absurd administrative circular, the Bihar government has asked school teachers to keep a tab on liquor consumption in the state to ensure minimal violation of the liquor laws. Shockingly, the state education minister defended the decision by arguing that
it is a responsibility of all enlightened and responsible citizens including school teachers to immediately notify the government about such violations. When the teacher’s association and opposition opposed the move, the minister clarifies that the teachers have to share information about violations to keep an eye on consumption of liquor in the state. (Times of India 2022)
The liquor ban has become a hysterical policy measure in one of the poorest states of India, which has a substantially lower literacy rate and where the teachers are engaged in various non-academic works including election duty, census, and as an operating channel for many other welfare policies of the state. It is time to rethink about the havoc caused by liquor laws that were designed to harmonise social orders using legislative powers.
