Now, only ‘Army’ can consume liquor in ‘dry’ Bihar

Bihar government has decided to renew liquor licenses of army canteens for the financial year 2016-17. The relaxation on liquor ban is only applicable to soldiers. Bihar government announced a ban on liquor despite Patna High Court’s order of quashing the earlier order on prohibition. Recently, Patna police had arrested Vinod Kumar, son of a retired judge on charges of possessing 30 bottles of foreign liquor.

By it’s ‘in the interest of soldiers’ statement, the Bihar government clearly meant that the relaxation is only for the soldiers in the state and not for people from any other walk of life.

The Bihar government has decided to renew liquor licenses of army canteens for the financial year 2016-17, stated a report in The Telegraph.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is sure of ushering positive change by this step. He has also issued a letter to the excise commissioner in this regard.

Also, the government has said yes for not making it compulsory to paste holograms on liquor bottles, in business in army canteens. The excise commissioner has said that the army canteens have ‘form armed forces use only’ printed on the bottles there. They are also transported under strict surveillance so, the vehicles transporting liquor to army canteens also need not have digital clocks and GPS.

It can be noted that the Bihar government announced a ban on liquor despite Patna High Court’s order of quashing the earlier order on prohibition.

According to the law, applicable to all, except defence personnel, anyone caught drunk or manufacturing liquor would be subjected to up to 7 years in jail and a penalty of ₹1 to ₹10 lakh.

Recently, the Patna police had arrested Vinod Kumar, son of a retired judge on charges of possessing 30 bottles of foreign liquor.

Thus, in Bihar, you are lucky only if you are in the Defence.