The Indian state of Maharashtra, which includes the city of Mumbai, has decided to enforce a ban on the possession of beef and halted the slaughter of cattle, and could impose prison sentences of up to five years.

The legislation has been on the books since the 1990s, but recently Hindu hard-liners have succeeded in getting the government to protect their sacred animal.

According to the Telegraph, beef has long been a popular meat among Muslims, Christians, and lower-caste Hindus, and is one of the cheapest sources of protein for many living in poverty.

Restaurants serving beef are seeing a huge surge in demand as customers fear their days of steaks and burgers are coming to an end. However, in many restaurants the 'beef' on the menu is in fact buffalo meat, which may skirt the ban.

Vikram Doctor, a leading food authority in India, says he doubts Mumbai will be free of beef entirely, as it can be easily disguised as buffalo to prevent prosecution.