Nagaland government is mulling to partially lift total prohibition of liquor in the state and has decided to constitute a committee to work out modalities for the same.
Reports said that the state cabinet has decided to constitute the committee headed by the chief secretary to discuss with stakeholders and submit a report within a month.
The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act 1989 prohibits trade and consumption of liquor in the state.
The Nagaland Post, citing unnamed senior government officials, “confirmed” that the state government has undertaken a series of exercises by holding discussions and consultative meetings with stakeholders over NLTP Act 1989.
The report said that partial lifting of the NLTP Act 1989 was mooted several years back though the government had not taken any concrete steps.
“The dry law has always been controversial since enactment has proved so much easier than enforcement. Criminalization of alcohol consumption or possession, has not deterred people who go to nearby Assam to either consume or purchase liquor,” the Nagaland Post report said.
Besides civil society groups, the government had also sought inputs from government departments particularly tourism department as well as excise & prohibition department.
The main proponents who oppose any lifting of prohibition remain the church (notably NBCC) and some women groups.
Some have also claimed that bootleggers and smugglers are also among the strongest proponents of the dry law, the report noted.
