Aizawl, Dec 22 : The state which has been dry for the last 13 years may soon be wet again.
After the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act passed in the year 1997, the govt had prohibited sale, possession and consumption of any kind of wine/whiskey in the state.
However, as there have been various incidents of breaching the law, the state govt had formed the Mizoram Study Group of MLTP Act to study the failures and success of the Act.
The State Prohibition Council will study the reports of the Study Group and Sub-Group on MLTP Act, 1995 in January next year. The study group had asked various organisations on their opinion in connection with the implementation of MLTP Act.
Meanwhile, the State Prohibition Council held a meeting in Aizawl under the chairmanship the Excise Minister, JH Rothuama. The meeting discussed the report prepared by Presbyterian Synod which collected opinions from 1,008 persons.
The Prohibition Council also welcomed efforts made by the YMA and other voluntary organisations for creation of conducive and peaceful atmosphere during celebration of Christmas and New Year. Their representatives will also visit persons on duty in various localities on the 23rd evening.
Now the big question is whether the Mizoram govt will lift the Act legalising selling and consumption of wine/whiskey or any International brand in the market.
Meanwhile, since the passing of MLTP Act in 1997, though an interested person can still find liquor in various places but open sale and consumption was totally banned. It was in the year 2007, MLTP Act was amended which legalised manufacture of wine from guavas and grapes but with strict rules.
In this amendment, manufacturer should follow govt rules on percentage of alcohol to be included in the wine and the quantity of wine to be possessed by any individual. The amendment also forbids transport and export of local manufactured wine outside the state.
During the year 2010, the state after 13 years of prohibiting grape cultivators from producing wine have brought out Zawlaidi, love potion, a locally manufactured grape wine, thanks to the amendment of MLTP Act 1997 in 2007.
The enthusiasm of the grape farmers has been fuelled by the amendment of the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition (MLTP) Act. The Act had earlier prevented them from large-scale commercialisation of their products and wine-making from grapes.
Newmai News Network
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