After the states like Bihar and Kerala which recently imposed ban on liquor in the state, the central government has said that there will be no ban on liquor in the countrywide manner. The Centre can help state governments on the issue of imposing prohibition in their respective states but as of now it has no plans to impose ban on liquor consumption across the country, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, while replying to questions, said 2927 people had died due to consumption of illicit/spurious liquor between 2012 and 2014. Of these, 731 died in 2012, 497 in 2013 and 1699 in 2014.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir was replying to a supplementary by Janata Dal-United member Kaushelendra Kumar, who wanted to know whether the Centre will emulate the steps taken by the Bihar government and bringing about liquor prohibition across the country. The minister, however, agreed that ever since the prohibition was imposed in Bihar, the number of casualties due to consumption of hooch liquor has definitely declined. Biju Janata Dal member from Sambhalpur, Nagendra Kumar Pradhan demanded prohibition in the country and recalled that prior to country's independence even Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi had once said that his first priority would be liquor prohibition and then the liberation of the country.