Drink juice with the lights out to get that liquor-drinking feel, says Nitish Kumar

On 13 September, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appealed to the people of his home state Bihar to refrain from drinking alcohol, and drink juice instead, in the dark. Kumar's ingenious solution to alcohol addiction is drinking juice with the lights out, to get the feeling that you're consuming alcohol.

While addressing media persons, Kumar said, "Just for the sake of a peg or a two, why are you spoiling everything? Please do not do this, drink juice. Switch off the light and drink juice, you will feel as if you are drinking alcohol."

"The happiness and satisfaction that I got from banning alcohol was something I never achieved before," he added.

He further said that drinking or not drinking alcohol is solely the decision of the individual.

Earlier during the year, Nitish Kumar's government enforced a total ban in the state from 1 April.

The Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act that came into force on 1 April 2016, had restricted the manufacture, transport, sale and consumption of liquor in Bihar and with effective implementation, the state was declared dry on 6 April.

Nitish Kumar's government enforced total prohibition in Bihar in April this year.

He even asked Prime Minister Modi to impose prohibition across India.

The penal provisions in the Act are stringent as there is a large fine as well as a large jail sentence for anyone caught violating the laws.

The establishment of check posts and barriers around the state has made it nearly impossible for those who wish to consume alcohol to source it.

--ANI