Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced a ban on the sale of alcohol in Bihar, which will be effective from April 1, 2016. The ban was one of Kumar’s major promises during his campaign for the recently concluded Assembly elections. The sale of alcohol brings the state government revenue of around Rs 3,800 crore annually, Times Now reported. The state government will need to look into making up for that loss, and then cracking down on illegal sales or an alcohol black market that could emerge as a result of the decision.

The delayed start date will help the state government iron out a plan on the practicalities of enforcing the ban. While making his announcement on Thursday, Kumar said alcoholism in the state was particularly affecting poor families and women who had to bear the brunt of alcohol-abusing husbands. This is the first major announcement by Kumar since he was sworn in as chief minister last week.