NEW DELHI: Bihar’s decision to enforce total prohibition in 2016 has been associated with notable improvements in household diets, including higher consumption of calories, protein and beneficial fats drawn from nutritious foods, a new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has found.
According to the research, the alcohol ban introduced through the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act by the Nitish Kumar government led families to spend more on wholesome food items such as pulses, milk and dairy products, and oils derived from nuts, thereby improving overall nutrient intake.
One of the key outcomes highlighted in the study is a reduction in the intake of packaged and processed foods, which researchers note are frequently consumed alongside alcohol.
“The ban did not just free up household resources; it also triggered positive behavioural spillovers,” said Vinayak Krishnatri, from Department of Economic Sciences, at IIT Kanpur.
“Reduced alcohol use was associated with lower marital conflict, improved household stability, and a greater prioritization of spending on nutritious food,” Krishnatri added.
Published in the journal Agricultural Economics, the paper is based on household-level analysis using data from two rounds—2011–12 and 2022–23—of the nationally representative Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
To isolate the impact of prohibition from broader economic and temporal changes, the researchers compared trends in Bihar with those in neighbouring states—Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The study’s conclusions were strengthened through the use of multiple statistical matching methods and extensive robustness checks to validate the results.
Findings indicate that money previously spent on alcohol was largely redirected towards healthier food choices rather than less nutritious alternatives. The effect was particularly pronounced in urban areas, where enforcement of the ban has been relatively stronger.
The researchers also observed that, contrary to apprehensions, households did not channel these savings into unhealthy food consumption.
From a policy perspective, the rise in protein intake is especially significant in Bihar, where diets have traditionally been dominated by cereals. The analysis further points to a move away from low-cost, poor-quality fats towards superior cooking oils, contributing to better dietary quality overall.
While the primary objective of alcohol prohibition in Bihar was to curb domestic violence and other alcohol-related social problems, the study suggests that the policy has also delivered unintended gains in nutrition and health.
“We show that the ban led to meaningful improvements in diet quality by shifting household spending from alcohol to food,” said Prof. Sukumar Vellakkal, co-author and Associate Professor, Department of Economic Sciences, IIT Kanpur.
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