Union MSME Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) patron Jitan Ram Manjhi has proposed that the Bihar government explore productive uses for liquor confiscated under the state's prohibition regime, rather than simply destroying the seized stock. Speaking to reporters in Gaya on Saturday, 3 October, Manjhi suggested the confiscated alcohol could be processed into sanitisers and allied products, contingent on legal compliance, safety standards, and technical feasibility.

What Manjhi Proposed

Manjhi argued that the government could systematically collect seized liquor and channel it toward industrial applications instead of letting it go to waste. According to him, such an approach could simultaneously reduce wastage and generate a revenue stream for the state. He stopped short of prescribing a specific mechanism, acknowledging that any such move would need regulatory clearance and rigorous quality checks.

Bihar's Prohibition Backdrop

The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, which came into force in April 2016, bans the manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor across the state. Enforcement has led to the continuous seizure of illicit alcohol, raising questions about how the confiscated stock is handled and disposed of. Critics have long pointed to the dual problem of spurious liquor circulation and the economic burden the ban places on lower-income households.

Manjhi's History With the Prohibition Debate

This is not the first time Manjhi has weighed in on Bihar's liquor policy. In April 2026, he publicly called for a review of the prohibition law's implementation, citing its adverse impact on economically weaker sections and the proliferation of spurious alcohol. He was careful, however, to distinguish between the policy's intent — which he did not oppose outright — and the manner in which it has been enforced.

The Bihar government has so far resisted pressure to revisit the law. In February 2026, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary stated categorically that there was no proposal to reconsider the prohibition policy, effectively closing the door on a formal review at that point.

Regulatory and Technical Hurdles

Experts note that converting seized ethanol-based liquor into industrial sanitiser is technically feasible but requires a clearly defined legal framework governing custody, processing, and quality assurance. Any such initiative would need sign-off from multiple agencies, including state excise authorities and drug regulators, given that sanitiser falls under pharmaceutical-adjacent categories. Notably, India explored similar liquor-to-sanitiser conversions during the COVID-19 pandemic, when several distilleries were temporarily repurposed — lending some precedent to Manjhi's idea.

What Happens Next

The Bihar government has not yet responded to Manjhi's latest suggestion. Given the ruling coalition's earlier reluctance to revisit prohibition, a formal policy shift appears unlikely in the near term — but the proposal keeps the debate alive and adds a pragmatic economic dimension to what has largely been a political and social argument. All eyes are now on whether the state administration will commission a feasibility study or continue with the status quo of destroying seized stock.