190 Dead from Illicit Liquor in Bihar Since 2016 Ban; Over 14 Lakh Arrested for Violations: Official Data
Despite a statewide ban on alcohol imposed in 2016, Bihar has witnessed 190 deaths linked to toxic liquor consumption, a top official from the Excise Department confirmed.
Patna, Apr 4 — Since the Bihar government enforced complete prohibition in April 2016, a total of 190 individuals have lost their lives due to consumption of spurious liquor, said Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Secretary of the Department of Prohibition, Excise, and Registration.
The law prohibits the production, distribution, possession, transportation, sale, and use of alcohol in the state. Nevertheless, the illegal trade in liquor continues, with smuggling operations thriving despite ongoing crackdowns.
“The state has recorded approximately 190 confirmed deaths from toxic liquor incidents across various districts,” Gunjiyal told PTI. “Districts like Saran, Siwan, Gaya, Bhojpur, Buxar, and Gopalganj have reported the highest numbers of such fatalities.”
According to a department press release, up until March 31, 2025, authorities have registered 9.36 lakh cases under the prohibition law, leading to the arrest of around 14.32 lakh individuals.
In addition, enforcement teams have confiscated a staggering 3.86 crore bulk litres of alcohol—including locally brewed varieties. Of this, 97% (around 3.77 crore litres) has already been destroyed by the authorities.
The crackdown has also led to the seizure of 1.40 lakh vehicles used to transport alcohol illegally across the state. From auctioning 74,725 of these vehicles, the department has earned Rs 340.55 crore in revenue.
To enhance surveillance, drones are being deployed in certain districts to track and apprehend those violating prohibition laws. The department is also leveraging a team of 33 trained sniffer dogs to identify and catch offenders.
On another front, the department has achieved record-breaking earnings from land and property registrations, collecting Rs 7,648.88 crore in the 2024–25 fiscal year—surpassing its target of Rs 7,500 crore.
Further, the government plans to expand the use of the ‘e-nibandhan’ system, allowing citizens to apply for property registrations online from any location within the state.
