On April 6, 2026, Tejashwi Yadav (Leader of Opposition in Bihar) marked the 10th anniversary of the state's Prohibition Policy by denouncing it as a failure. He accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of fostering a ₹40,000 crore illegal liquor economy, asserting that the law has become a tool for institutional corruption. Yadav pointed out that the Home and Excise Department, which oversees the prohibition, has remained under Kumar's control, allowing illegal activities to flourish. He cited alarming statistics, including 11 lakh cases registered and over 16 lakh arrests made since the law's enactment, with a significant number of those arrested being from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Yadav also raised concerns about the increasing trade of narcotics and questioned the government's data on liquor consumption, suggesting that actual consumption far exceeds reported seizures. He criticized the government's approach, stating that the prohibition law has mainly targeted the poor while failing to hold senior officials accountable for the ongoing issues. The tragic consequences of this policy are evident, with over 350 deaths linked to spurious liquor since its implementation, including a recent incident in East Champaran district.