Every household in a village in India has been fined by the district magistrate for violating a new alcohol ban.

All 50 households in Kailashpuri in Bihar state have been ordered to pay 5,000 rupees (£58) as a collective fine following the recovery of liquor bottles in the village.

It is believed to be the first case of collective punishment since a strict alcohol prohibition law came into force in the North Indian state in April.

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In the event that someone dies drinking hooch, the manufacturers, suppliers and sellers can be sentenced to death under the legislation.


But the most controversial provision is the one that makes every family member, including children, responsible for the consumption and possession of alcohol in a house.

It presumes that all of them must be aware of the offence, until proven otherwise.

In some cases, drinking at home can carry a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

Drinking in public places, illegal trade and transport of alcohol could result in a five to 10-year jail term and a fine of up to £10,000.

A freephone number has been set up to allow neighbours to report potential offenders.

Only addicts, who can get alcohol under a doctor's prescription, and Army cantonments are exempt from the law.

The ban was a key election pledge during Nitish Kumar's campaign for re-election as chief minister of the state in 2015, and he was quick to follow through with his promise.

In a statement, Mr Kumar said: "I reaffirmed to myself that there is no going back, whatever may be the consequence.

"Experiencing the socioeconomic benefits and outcomes, I am more than determined to implement total liquor prohibition in Bihar in true letter and spirit.

"For every word that has been written against the liquor ban in the last few months, there are numerous real families - women and children - who have cheered for prohibition in Bihar and rest of India," he said.

Toddy, a fermented extract of the sugar palm, is still permitted under the law.

It is consumed widely in villages and by the urban poor and can be sold with some restrictions.

The state had been earning some £461m from alcohol duties prior to the ban. This figure had increased almost 1,000 times over the last 10 years.

The government is yet to reveal how it plans to compensate the cash-strapped state for the loss of revenue.