Sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor for human consumption is prohibited in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Nagaland. All other Indian states and union territories permit the sale and consumption of alcohol.
The directive principles of state policy (DPSP) in the constitution of India (article 47) state that "....the State shall endeavor to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health". The Directive Principles are not-justiciable rights of the people but fundamental in the governance of the country. It shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making policy laws per Article 47. Per Article 38, state and union governments, as duty, shall make further detailed policies and laws for implementation considering DPSPs as fundamental policy.
National prohibition was advocated by Mahatma Gandhi, as well as by many Indian women. Prohibition in the states of India that have implemented the policy has led to lower rates of drinking among men, as well as a decreased incidence of violence against women.
History
The temperance movement in India often led to the prohibition of alcohol in various states, as with Manipur. In British India, many Indian temperance activists agitated for prohibition in the country. Mahatma Gandhi was a champion of the temperance movement and viewed foreign rule as an obstacle to national prohibition. When India gained independence in 1947, "prohibition was included in the Directive Principles of the Constitution of India and the government of several states such as Gujarat introduced it."
Summary of state laws + Alcohol prohibitions in Indian states State Type Law enacted Law repealedMadras StateTotal1948? Andhra Pradesh Total 1995 1997Partial 1993 In force Bihar Total 1977 1980Past prohibition lessons for futureTotal 2016 In force Bombay State Total 1950 1960Report Of The Prohibition Enquiry Committee Gujarat Total 1960 In force Harayana Total 1996 1998 Kerala Partial 1996 In force Lakshadweep Total 1979 In force MaharashtraExperiments in Alcohol Prohibition: A Review of Maharashtra’s Chandrapur Experience Total 1960 1964 Chandrapur Total 2015 2023 Wardha Total 1950 In force Gadchiroli Total 1992 In forceManipur Total 1991 2002Partial 2002 2023Mizoram Total 1997 2014Total 2019 In force Nagaland Total 1989 In forceImpact of Parents' Exposure to Alcohol Prohibition Policies on Educational Outcomes of ChildrenOrissa Total 1994 1995Rajasthan Partial 1986 1989 Tamil Nadu Total 1951 1971Total 1974 1981Total 1987 1990Total 1991 2001 Uttar Pradesh Partial 1993 1998
States practicing prohibition Bihar
On 26 November 2015, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that alcohol would be banned in the state from 1 April 2016. Kumar officially declared the total ban on 5 April 2016, and said in a press conference, "All type of liquor will be banned in the state from today. Sale [and consumption] of any type of alcohol in hotels, bars, clubs and any other place will be illegal from today onwards." Violating the law carries a penalty of 5 years to 10 years imprisonment. On 30 September 2016, the Patna High Court ruled that the ban is "illegal, impractical and unconstitutional". Although even before the High Court order came, the Bihar government had announced that it would enforce a new stringent law from 2 October 2016, only to stay adamant on it after the order. The government had drafted a new law to keep from withdrawing the ban. As per the new liquor law, those found indulging in the unlawful import, export, transport, manufacture, possession or sale of an intoxicant or liquor could attract a minimum 10 years of jail term which may extend to imprisonment for life besides a minimum fine of Rs 100,000 which may extend to Rs 1,000,000. On 3 October 2016, the Bihar government approached the Supreme Court of India challenging the High Court order. The Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice T. S. Thakur agreed to give an urgent hearing on the matter and on 7 October 2016, much to the relief of the government, the bench stayed the high court order. "Ban on liquor and fundamental rights do not go together," the SC bench said. The bench directed the hearing of the matter after 10 weeks. On 25 October 2016, the state government decided to renew liquor licences of canteens in cantonment areas, military and air force stations for 2016–2017 in the "interest of soldiers". On 21 January 2017, more than 3 crore (30 million) people of Bihar joined hands to form a historic human chain along 12,760 km of roads to support the ban on alcohol, which was supported by people from all walks of life and political parties.
The Government of Bihar introduced a new version of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act on 2 October 2016, days after the Patna High Court quashed the previous bill, deeming it as "illegal". The act brought in stricter measures, with all Sections in the act being non-bailable and the police being allowed to assume that manufacturing of alcohol was ongoing if utensils containing a mix of jaggery or grapes are found. Under the law, only special courts constituted under Bihar Special Courts Act can try the cases. It also empowered authorities to confiscate properties upon whose premises liquor is either consumed or stored. The new policy was challenged in the Patna High Court a day later. The Supreme Court meanwhile stayed Patna High Court's order on quashing Bihar's ban on alcohol. It stayed proceedings of all challenges to Bihar's new law in the Patna High Court on 2 January 2017, stating that it will itself hear all cases related to the new ban. However, the Bihar government introduced an amendment to the liquor law in the upcoming monsoon session of Bihar assembly beginning 20 July. According to the new amendment, first time offenders will not face a mandatory jail term if they pay a fine of Rs. 50,000.
Gujarat
Bombay State had prohibition between 1948 and 1950, and again from 1958. Gujarat has a sumptuary law in force that proscribes the manufacture, storage, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The legislation has been in force since 1 May 1960 when Bombay State was bifurcated into the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 is still in force in Gujarat state, however there is licensing regime in Maharashtra with granting licenses to vendors and traders. Gujarat is the only Indian state with a death penalty for the manufacture and sale of homemade liquor that results in fatalities. The legislation is titled the Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 2009. The legislation was prompted by numerous deaths resulting from the consumption of methyl alcohol.
Predictably, smuggling and illicit sale of alcohol are very common. "Folder" is a slang term of unknown origin, used in Gujarat to refer to a bootlegger who delivers alcohol on-demand.
Permits Foreigners and visitors from other parts of India can apply online for a permit. There are 35 stores across the state including nine in Ahmedabad that sell liquor on production of a physical copy of the permit. Once the permit expires, users are to hand over the unconsumed liquor to the district collector.
Public Interest Litigation Five petitions, including Public Interest Litigation (PIL), have been filed before the Gujarat High Court challenging the prohibition law in the state. Most petitioners have raised concern that prohibition law violates Right to Privacy and are seeking relaxation on consumption in privacy.
Liquor Policy in GIFT City, Gujarat In December 2023, Gujarat permitted controlled liquor consumption within Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), exclusively for its permanent employees and authorized visitors.
Mizoram The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995 banned sale and consumption of alcohol effective from 20 February 1997. In 2007, the MLTP Act was amended to allow wine to be made from guavas and grapes, but with restrictions on the alcohol content and the volume possessed. It is illegal to transport these products out of the state.
Mizoram repealed prohibition on 10 July 2014, a period of 17 years after it had been imposed. On that date, the state Legislative Assembly passed the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition and Control) Act, 2014 (MLPC Act), replacing the MLTP Act. The Presbyterian Church had organised mass prayers in all member churches across the state twice that year opposing the repeal of prohibition.
The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition and Control) Act, 2014 was repealed on 20 March 2019 with the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Act, 2019, it was a legislation promised by the Mizo National Front. The act came into effect in May 2019. In August 2022, the state government allowed sale of wine made from locally grown grapes.
Nagaland
The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 (NLTP Act) banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in 1989. Enforcement of the ban is lax and Indian Made Foreign Liquor is readily available. Authorities generally turn a blind eye towards illegal sales. Reports have stated that some police officials themselves engage in bootlegging. The Congress party has termed prohibition a "total failure" and has pleaded for it to be revoked.
The excise department had earned around prior to prohibition. It earned about annually in NLTP Act related fines as of June 2014. The Morung Express estimated that were about 500 illegal liquor bars in Dimapur, the largest city in the state, as of August 2014. Alcohol is also smuggled in from neighbouring Assam.
Madhya Pradesh
In April 2025, alcohol prohibition was imposed by the state government in nineteen religious places, namely the urban areas of Ujjain, Mandhata, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, Panna, Mandla, Multai, Mandsaur and in gram panchayat areas of Salkanpur, Kundalpur, Bandakpur, Barman Kalan, Barman Khurd and Linga.
States no longer practicing prohibition Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram and Tamil Nadu have previously enforced, but later repealed prohibition.
Andhra Pradesh The total prohibition was introduced in Madras State (which included Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema) when C. Rajagopalachari became Chief Minister in 1952. The ban was re-introduced by N. T. Rama Rao in 1994. N. Chandrababu Naidu repealed the prohibition in 1997, claiming that it was "not successful or feasible because of the leakages within the state and from across the borders".
Haryana Bansi Lal led Haryana Vikas Party lifted prohibition on 1 April 1998. The total prohibition was in force in the state from July 1996.
Kerala Kerala currently allows alcohol to be served in most hotels, bars and airports. The state banned arrack in 1996 (AK Antony government), 18 years later, a ban imposed by the United Democratic Front government in 2014 was reversed by the Left Democratic Front government in 2017 when they came to power citing heavy losses in state revenue and sharp decrease in tourism industry.