Nitish govt may amend Bihar liquor law to make it less stringent, bill likely next month

In the wake of recent hooch deaths in Bihar, the Nitish Kumar government is likely to amend the existing liquor law to make prohibition less stringent. An amendment bill may be tabled in Bihar Assembly's budget session in February.

In the wake of recent hooch incidents in Bihar where dozens of people lost their lives, the Nitish Kumar government is likely to amend the existing liquor law to make prohibition less stringent. An amendment bill may be tabled in Bihar Assembly's budget session in February.

According to sources, the Nitish Kumar government is working on the amendment bill to bring some changes in the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. The amended law is likely to propose that if any person is caught consuming liquor may not be directly sent to jail. Police and excise officials will have the option of releasing the person on the spot after taking a decision.