Aimed at revitalizing the economy and addressing health concerns associated with illicit alcohol, the Manipur cabinet recently took the bold step of legalizing liquor in the state. This decision, just over a year after partially lifting prohibition, marks a pivotal moment for Manipur, a state that is currently grappling with an enduring ethnic conflict and mounting concerns over drug and alcohol abuse intertwined with the ongoing strife.
Led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the cabinet’s decision taken on December 4 encompasses the approval of various facets of the liquor industry, including manufacturing, production, possession, export, import, transport, purchase, sale, and consumption. The state government anticipates an annual revenue boost, estimating figures ranging between Rs 600-700 crore post the legalization of liquor.
It is noteworthy that Manipur had become a dry state in 1991 after enacting the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act.
Welcoming this move, the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), the apex body representing the Indian alcoholic beverages industry, seized the opportunity to advocate for a parallel course of action in Bihar. It may be noted that, on November 26, 2015, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a statewide alcohol ban from April 1, 2016.
As per a Business Standard report, CIABC Director General Vinod Giri emphasized the positive impact of ending over three decades of prohibition, citing potential tax revenues and the suppression of illegal alcohol trade. Giri urged the Bihar government to reconsider its prohibition policy, pointing out the heavy toll it has taken in terms of hooch tragedies, crime syndicates, and substantial revenue losses. The CIABC estimates Bihar’s potential legitimate liquor trade revenue at around Rs 10,000 crore annually, underscoring the adverse consequences of the current prohibition stance.
Giri remarked, “Repeated hooch tragedies have so far seen over 300 deaths since 2016, close to 500,000 cases are pending in courts clogging the justice delivery system, and around 300,000 people have been put behind bars for something which the rest of the country finds perfectly lawful.”
Meanwhile, in Nagaland, the debate over whether to lift or retain the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989 has been ongoing. The latest attempt to address this contentious issue occurred in a consultative meeting organized by the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), lasting nearly four hours but failing to reach a resolution on lifting the prohibition act in Dimapur.
Representatives from seven out of nine Dimapur-based church bodies attended the meeting, expressing divergent views on the implementation of the prohibition act. While some advocated for strict adherence, others argued that the failures of alcohol prohibition, including the NLTP Act, warrant a comprehensive review and potential repeal.
This report illuminates the varied landscape of alcohol prohibition in India, with states like Bihar and Nagaland maintaining their staunch stance while Manipur charts a new course. The contrasting perspectives underscore the intricate interplay of economic, social, cultural, and political factors in shaping alcohol policies across different states.
