Tejashwi Yadav Vows To Legalise Toddy If Voted To Power In Bihar. What Is It?

Last Updated:October 28, 2025, 20:46 IST

The sale and consumption of 'toddy' is prohibited in Bihar under the Act.

Toddy is a natural alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of palm trees. (File)

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Minister candidate, Tejashwi Yadav, on Tuesday announced to exempt toddy — a traditional palm drink (alcoholic) from the state’s prohibition law, if he is voted to power.

While speaking at a poll rally in Saran’s Parsa, the RJD leader voiced disapproval of the prohibition policy in Bihar. “The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act has completely failed in Bihar… There is a home delivery system of liquor in the state, and people are easily availing it," he claimed as reported by news agency PTI.

“If we are voted to power, we will remove the ban on ‘toddy’ (tari)," Yadav added.

Later, in the manifesto, the Mahagathbandhan promised to lift the ban on toddy (tari) and review the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act if voted to power in the state.

“The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act will be reviewed and the ban on toddy (tari) in the state will be removed. Immediate relief will be provided to Dalits and other poor people languishing in jail for violating the law. Traditional occupations based on toddy and mahua will be excluded from the ambit of the prohibition law," the document said.

Yadav said the move would restore the livelihoods of those dependent on the traditional toddy trade.

“The community, which has been doing this toddy business for generations, has no other means of livelihood or agricultural land. This ban needs to be removed," Yadav said.

Bihar has been a dry state since April 2016, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor. The sale and consumption of ‘toddy’ is prohibited in the state under the Act.

What Is Toddy?

Toddy is primarily an alcoholic beverage made from the sap of different types of palm trees, including date palms, coconut palms, and others. In South India, it is also known as Palm Wine, while in Northern India, it is called Neera.

It has a highly sweet flavour and is not alcoholic until fermented.

When it goes through the fermentation process, it becomes an alcoholic beverage which is known as palm wine.

Overindulging in Palm Toddy can be harmful to one’s health. It can harm the liver if consumed in excess. Because it includes ethanol, it may have an adverse effect on a pregnant woman’s lipid metabolism. It causes the liver to store fat, which interferes with the liver’s regular operation.

Palm Toddy drinking in excess can also reduce a person’s body’s ability to clot blood, which can cause uncontrolled bleeding.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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News elections Tejashwi Yadav Vows To Legalise Toddy If Voted To Power In Bihar. What Is It?

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