New Year Warning: Drunk Husbands Face 3 Years Jail Under BNS for Cruelty

• Viral message warns drunk husbands of 3 years jail if wife forbids alcohol, especially for New Year.
• This relates to Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Section 85 (or 85B), effective July 1, 2024.
• Punishment applies if husband, while intoxicated, commits physical/mental cruelty, disturbs home, or endangers wife's safety/dignity.
• It's an upgraded version of IPC Section 498A, aimed at protecting women from domestic violence.
• Legal experts clarify: merely drinking is not punishable; cruelty *while intoxicated* is the trigger.

Why It Matters: BNS 2023 warns drunk husbands: cruelty while intoxicated can lead to 3 years jail, not just drinking.