Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 18: The prohibition on alcohol imposed in Bihar in 2016 has resulted in notable improvements in household nutrition, with higher intake of calories, protein and healthy fats from nutritious food sources, according to a study released by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur on Saturday.
The study found that the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, implemented by the Nitish Kumar-led government, led to a significant increase in consumption of healthier foods such as pulses, dairy products and nut-based oils. At the same time, households reduced their intake of packaged and processed foods, which researchers noted are often consumed alongside alcohol.
“Alcohol prohibition did more than just free up household resources; it also generated positive behavioural changes,” said Vinayak Krishnatri from the Department of Economic Sciences at IIT Kanpur. He added that lower alcohol consumption was linked to reduced marital conflict, greater household stability and a stronger focus on spending for nutritious food.
Published in the journal Agricultural Economics, the research analysed household-level data from two rounds of the Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2011–12 and 2022–23. To isolate the impact of prohibition, the researchers compared trends in Bihar with those in neighbouring states — Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal — while accounting for wider economic and regional changes.
The team used multiple statistical matching methods and conducted extensive robustness checks to validate the results. The findings showed that savings from reduced alcohol consumption were redirected towards healthier diets rather than unhealthy food choices, countering common concerns.
The study noted that the positive effects were more pronounced in urban areas, where enforcement of the alcohol ban has been relatively stronger. A key policy-relevant outcome was the rise in protein intake in Bihar, a state traditionally characterised by cereal-heavy diets. Researchers also observed a shift away from inexpensive, unhealthy fats towards higher-quality cooking oils, leading to overall improvements in diet quality.
Although Bihar’s alcohol prohibition was primarily intended to curb domestic violence and alcohol-related social problems, the study highlights significant unintended benefits for nutrition and health.
“Our analysis shows that the ban brought meaningful improvements in dietary quality by reallocating household spending from alcohol to food,” said Prof. Sukumar Vellakkal, Associate Professor at IIT Kanpur and co-author of the study.