Bihar liquor prohibition spells ‘happy hours’ in Jharkhand

Tipplers in Bihar have started rushing to neighbouring Jharkhand to enjoy “happy hours” that have been extended by several hours to facilitate better business.

Most restaurants and bars in Ranchi offer up to 25% discount on alcoholic drinks till as late as 9pm. “We have extended the facility for our friends from Bihar,” said a bar tender at Booty Mor, a resort-cum-restaurant.

Over the past month, since complete prohibition was imposed in Bihar, restaurants and bars right from Koderma up to Ranchi have reported brisk business. Many also provide the option of renting a room to sleep off the alcohol, said a customer on the condition of anonymity.

Even the banquet in Jharkhand are doing better business as many have shifted their weddings out of the state for their guests’ merriment.

A well-known doctor, requesting anonymity said, a marriage which was scheduled to take place at a prominent Patna hotel on July 10 this year has been cancelled. “The groom’s family insisted on shifting the marriage venue to Jharkhand,” he said.

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Prohibition has not only snuffed out Patna’s night life, it is leading to joblessness.

Hardly 10% members of the 150-year-old Bankipore Club have visited the premises since April 5.

With income gone, the club is mulling laying off some of its staff. The outsourced canteens plan to down their shutters. “It’s a very bad situation but we can’t help it. We are following the new excise laws,” said club secretary Dr Om Prakash.

Similarly, medical conferences here are failing to attract doctors. Though some pre-scheduled continuing medical education (CME) programmes were organised in Patna, attendance was thin.

As far as the bigger medical conferences are concerned, Bihar is not getting any fresh proposals to host national-level meets.

“We have not received fresh offers to hold events in the state,” said president of Indian Medical Association, Bihar branch, Dr Sachchidanand Kumar.