Booze ban: Jubilation proves short-lived

Patna: The jubilation among liquor traders, hoteliers and

Bacchus

lovers over the Patna high court order against the Bihar prohibition law proved short-lived as the Bihar government on Friday evening decided to go ahead with a new Excise Act to impose prohibition from October 2.

“I am not a heavy drinker but I prefer a couple of small pegs after a hard day’s work. Now that police can’t arrest me, I plan to bring liquor from neighbouring Jharkhand outskirts on weekend,” said a Patna businessman requesting anonymity soon after the HC order earlier in the day.

Non-resident Biharis also made inquiries about the HC order. “My friend, who works in a reputed company in Delhi, called me in the afternoon. I told him liquor was still not available, but he could carry a few bottles and enjoy booze tourism over the weekend,” said advocate

Ravi Parmar

.

People burst into celebrations on the social media too. “Congratulations alcoholics. Alcohol ban over in Bihar,” Pratik Saha posted on Facebook. A WhatsApp message that went viral read, “Breaking news:

Shahabuddin

behind bars, bars open in Bihar.” Another WhatsApp message said “Cheers to Bihar”.

Owners of bars in Patna that are shut now claimed scores of people asked about availability of alcohol. “People even started turning up outside my closed bar,” said a trader who once ran a bar on Fraser Road.

Hoteliers, however, were sceptical. “Our revenue plunged heavily after the state government imposed prohibition on April 5. Most corporate houses are now holding their seminars and workshops in neighbouring Jharkhand or even Kolkata. Corporate guests do not stay overnight. The HC order would have been a huge relief had it translated into permanent lifting of the ban, but that does not seem to be happening as the government is all set to come up with the new excise Act on October 2,” said Narendra Kumar, owner of a hotel on Exhibition Road.