‘Every man was drinking’: how much do bans on alcohol help women in India?

Women's protests led to prohibition in Bihar but can alcohol bans end domestic abuse and harassment?

Holding sticks and brooms, the women marched to the liquor shop in the centre of Konar village. It was a rare ambush in the staunchly patriarchal Bihar state in eastern India. But they were at breaking point.

In every village women were troubled by alcohol. Men harassed them on the streets. Husbands beat them at home," says Sunita Devi, 52, a former seamstress who led the crowd. When they saw us they gained courage that we can come together and fight."