Alcohol regulations in Bihar

Licences needed

None available (manufacturing of potable liquor and distilled spirits is strictly prohibited)

Authority

Prohibition, Excise & Registration Department, Government of Bihar

Documents

Not applicable

Fees

Not applicable

Time to obtain

Not applicable

Who can import

None (commercial import of potable spirits into the state is completely banned)

Licences or registrations

Not applicable

Authority

Prohibition, Excise & Registration Department, Government of Bihar

Documents

Not applicable

Fees

Not applicable

Time to obtain

Not applicable

Required

no

Process

Not applicable (commercial brand and label registrations for potable spirits are defunct due to total state prohibition; FSSAI sets national safety standards, but commercial distribution within Bihar is barred)

Authority

Prohibition, Excise & Registration Department, Government of Bihar / FSSAI

Documents and samples

Not applicable

Fees

Not applicable

Renewal

Not applicable

Time to obtain

Not applicable

Import, transport, transit, accumulation, and possession of potable distilled spirits are criminal offenses under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. Inter-state transit passing through Bihar to other states or Nepal requires digital locks, GPS vehicle tracking, and specialized transit permits; non-compliant vehicles are seized and auctioned.

At the national level, Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on spirits (HS 2208) is 150% ad valorem; however, commercial customs clearance into Bihar for domestic consumption is banned.

No state excise duty or VAT is levied on potable spirits because commercial sales are prohibited. Under the Indian Constitution (List II, Entry 54), potable alcohol remains outside the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

Completely prohibited. No private retail outlets, state-run monopolies, hotels, clubs, or licensed bars are permitted to sell or serve potable liquor anywhere in the state.

Banned (strictly illegal and subject to criminal prosecution, fines, and confiscation)

Commercial sale is prohibited. Under national FSSAI regulations (Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018), potable spirits must carry mandatory statutory warnings ('CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH' and 'BE SAFE-DONT DRINK AND DRIVE'), declaration of ABV, and traceability marks, but no retail product is allowed in Bihar.

Completely banned. Direct and surrogate advertising, marketing, and sponsorship of alcoholic beverages are strictly forbidden under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, and national regulations (Cable Television Networks Rules and ASCI Code).

Potable spirits may not be produced or sold in Bihar. National standards set by the FSSAI and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) prescribe a minimum alcoholic strength of 36% ABV for distilled spirits (whisky, rum, gin, brandy, and vodka; standard IMFL commercially prepared at 42.8% ABV / 75° proof) and 96% ABV for neutral spirit/extra neutral alcohol.

The entire state of Bihar (all 38 districts) is a 100% dry jurisdiction, with no exemptions for tourists, hospitality venues, or special economic zones.

• Continued enforcement under the amended Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, maintaining compoundable fines (₹2,000–₹5,000) for first-time personal consumption while imposing strict non-bailable penalties, property sealing, and vehicle auctions on commercial smugglers and distributors.
• State government repeatedly reaffirmed the total prohibition policy throughout 2024–2026, rejecting proposals to introduce tourist or Gujarat-style health permits.
• Strengthened technological surveillance and border checkpost enforcement, including mandatory digital locks and GPS tracking on tankers transiting through the state.

There are zero market opportunities for international or domestic exporters of potable distilled spirits in Bihar due to total prohibition. Commercial opportunities are limited strictly to equipment and industrial enzymes for grain-based fuel ethanol distilleries operating under the state's ethanol promotion policy.

• Prohibition, Excise & Registration Department, Government of Bihar
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

1. Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 - Government of Bihar Gazette
2. Prohibition Excise & Registration Department, Government of Bihar
3. The Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022 - Legislative Brief
4. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs - Customs Tariff Heading 2208