New Delhi: In a somewhat novel idea to ensure that liquor shops across Bihar have an alternative to livelihood, as his government is gradually enforcing prohibition, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that they can sell milk products instead of liquor.

64-year-old Kumar, who believes in the mantra of ‘drinking healthy’ and is a teetotaler said on Sunday that the almost 6000 liquor vends in the state would have the choice of selling products made by Sudha, which is run by the Bihar State Co-Operative Milk Producers Federation Ltd.

This, he said, would give a boost to the state-run entity’s business and also provide employment to people running these shops.

Calling it his ‘commitment’ to the millions of women in Bihar who have turned up in record numbers to vote in this year’s assembly election and are seen to have voted overwhelmingly leading to the Kumar’s alliance winning a big two-thirds majority in the state, he said that he was “absolutely firm” about his plan to impose prohibition in the state.

“There was this apprehension about loss of employment for people involved in this (liquor) trade. So my government will give them the choice of selling Sudha products,” the chief minister said on the sidelines of a meeting of his Janata Dal United.

Most liquor shops, Nitish Kumar noted, are in prime locations.

The chief minister has admitted that his government will suffer a loss of anywhere between Rs. 3000-3500 crore once the first phase of prohibition kicks in from April 1 next year. He said his government is prepared meet the challenge.

The Bihar government has decided to ban the sale of country-made and spiced liquor in the first phase.

It plans to open de-addiction centres to help people hooked to alcohol.