India, Oct. 7 -- Prohibition, or a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages, is a measure listed in the directive principles of state policy in the constitution of India. These guidelines are not judicable, but as the name suggests, expected to be followed voluntarily by governments. After Nitish Kumar's big victory in the 2015 assembly elections in Bihar, where he promised to impose prohibition if elected, the policy has been gaining political traction. J Jayalalithaa toyed with the idea in Tami Nadu before her death. The previous Congress-led government in Kerala had tried partial prohibition, envisaging a complete ban on alcohol by 2025. The newly elected government in Andhra Pradesh is also taking steps to curtail the liquor business, and has announced a takeover of all retail outlets selling alcohol. The political and moral arguments around prohibition notwithstanding, it could be an expensive experiment for state governments, especially in the post-Goods and Services Tax (GST) era....