Patna: The impact of the liquor ban in Bihar is becoming evident, as it has led to 21 lakh cases of domestic violence, but it has also positively affected people's health.

New research published in The Lancet Regional Health South East Asia journal reveals that the prohibition in Bihar has prevented 18 lakh men from becoming overweight or obese. A team of researchers, including experts from the International Food Policy Research Institute's Poverty-Health and Nutrition Division in the US, analyzed data from national and district-level health and household surveys. Their findings suggest that strict alcohol policies can benefit the health of frequent drinkers and reduce domestic partner violence.

In April 2016, the Bihar Government implemented the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, which almost completely banned the manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor statewide. The sudden implementation and rigorous enforcement of this policy provided an opportunity to assess the true effects of a strict alcohol ban on health and domestic violence outcomes. Data from National Family Health Surveys 3, 4, and 5 were used in the analysis.

Before the ban, the drinking rate among men in Bihar had risen from 9.7 percent to 15 percent, while in neighboring states, it increased from 7.2 percent to 10.3 percent. Following the prohibition, the minimum weekly alcohol consumption in Bihar decreased to 7.8 percent, while in neighboring states, it increased to 10.4 percent. Additionally, there is evidence of a reduction in physical violence against women in Bihar, with a 4.6 percent decrease in emotional violence and a 3.6 percent reduction in sexual violence recorded.

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