Mugdha Das

Mizoram government plans to introduce bill to amend prohibition law

Digital desk: The Mizoram government will present a bill to change the state's prohibition law during the state assembly's current budget session, according to Chief Minister Lalduhoma.

Lalduhoma, responding to the debate on the motion of gratitude for the governor's address in the state legislature, stated that a bill to alter the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019 would be introduced soon.

The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act prohibited the sale, manufacture, and use of liquor, including wine and beer, throughout the state, with the exception of three autonomous district councils.

Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People's Movement, a coalition of six political parties that took power in December 2023, had previously stated that it was reviewing the 2019 prohibition law to determine if it needed to be altered.

The current law was established by the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government in 2019, reaffirming Mizoram's long-standing anti-alcohol policy. Three years later, the law was altered to allow the selling of locally produced grape wines.

Mizoram has been under various forms of prohibition for decades, owing largely to the stances of churches and organizations that have advocated for stricter restrictions. Throughout the years, the state has fluctuated between complete and partial prohibition.

Wine shops were granted permission under the Mizoram Excise Act of 1973 in 1984, however, they were closed in 1987. The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act of 1995, which imposed a complete ban, took effect in 1997.

Liquor sales were permitted again in 2015, while Congress was in power. Following its election victory, the MNF government reinstated prohibition in 2019.