ACAUT Nagaland calls for lifting of Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act

The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), Nagaland has voiced strong opinions on the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, urging the Government of Nagaland to either fully repeal or at least partially lift the prohibition, particularly in towns bordering Assam. In a statement, ACAUT highlighted the severe societal implications of the prohibition, stressing that it is crucial to voice its opinion rather than remain silent on this matter.

ACAUT stated that “it is entirely up to the elected Government of the day to take a call on this matter.” It said that, while pressure groups have the right to express their views, the Government should not succumb to external pressure but instead act in the state’s best interest. It urged the Government to provide clear reasons if it chooses to continue enforcing the NLTP Act.

”If the Government decides to continue with the prohibition act, then it must clearly state the reason and rationale for arriving at such decision,” the ACAUT stated. This, according to ACAUT, is to dispel suspicions that a few individuals within the Government are influencing its continuation and “and have even been influencing certain individuals from pressure groups.”

ACAUT opined that the majority of Nagas are in favour of lifting prohibition and “for good reason.” It explained that the Act is “simply not implementable” and has been an utter failure. While the group acknowledged the importance of discussing the state’s loss of revenue, it chose to focus on the broader social impact of the Act.

ACAUT presented several reasons why it believes the NLTP Act is harmful to Naga society. Firstly, the group noted that the prohibition “only encourages corruption within law enforcement agencies and creates a mafia culture,” making criminals within the society. This, in turn, has far-reaching consequences, “degrading the moral fabric of the society” and corrupting the professional class.

From a practical standpoint, ACAUT argued that regulated and monitored wine shops would be easier to manage than “unregulated booze shops” that operate in every corner of towns and villages, often run by “goons and mafias.” It also stressed that the issue of alcoholism persists “with or without prohibition,” suggesting that revenue generated from legal alcohol sales could be used to set up detox and counseling centers.

ACAUT dismissed the argument for prohibition based on religious and moral grounds, stating that such perspectives have “no biblical foundation.” While well-meaning, the group argued that these views are based on “personal feelings and emotions” and not one of pragmatism.
The group also criticized the belief that the NLTP Act could succeed if the Government were more serious. It described such views as “wishful and fatalistic optimism,” pointing out that the state lacks the manpower and resources to enforce the law on such a large scale. It added that for this Act to succeed, it would require the will and commitment of the general public also.

“Except for few extremist Islamic countries where punishment is death and where alcohol is seen as Haram, in such countries prohibition has succeeded to some extent. Thus, unless the Government of Nagaland wishes to implement death penalty for both the drinker, the buyer, and the seller, the NLTP Act would never succeed and to hope for otherwise is outright delusional lacking grasp of reality,” it continued.

ACAUT further highlighted the issue of early deaths caused by the consumption of spurious alcohol. “More and more people are succumbing to alcohol-related deaths earlier and much sooner,” the group noted, adding that many victims die before they have the opportunity to reform. While regulating alcohol sales would not completely eliminate the problem, ACAUT argued it would make the situation more manageable and “drastically cut down on spurious alcohol.”

ACAUT stated, “The majority of consumers are not alcoholics, and it would be unfair to rob these people of their quality of life for those few who abuse it.”

The organization reiterated that prohibition “should be lifted at all costs” as empirical evidence from the past three and a half decades has shown the Act to be simply not implementable anymore.

Thus, ACAUT Nagaland urged the Government of Nagaland to lift the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, or at least lift the prohibition in border towns.

MT