The Patna High Court has observed that the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, which was passed with the objective of improving public health, instead, gave rise to unauthorised trade of liquor and other contraband items in the state.

The Patna High Court criticized Bihar government officials for profiting from the state's liquor ban, alleging their complicity with smugglers. The court argued that the ban disproportionately affects the poor,

The Patna High Court has said the liquor prohibition in Bihar gave rise to unauthorised trade of liquor and other contraband items.

In a scathing ruling, Justice Purnendu Singh said the law had let ‘unauthorised liquor trade’ and it was the poor that were being booked in cases of contravention.

The High Court further stated in its ruling that the draconian provisions of Bihar's prohibition law had given rise to unauthorised trade of liquor and other contraband items.

Justice Purnendu Singh also underlined how only a few cases were registered against the liquor kingpin and enforcement action was mostly aimed at the poor