Govt frames draft liquor regulation policy
Will seek inputs and suggestions from mothers of Manipur: CM Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 04 2022: Amid the fierce objec tions against the liquor legalisation decision taken by the state cabinet last month, reports have been received that the government has framed the Draft Manipur Liquor Regulation Policy with eight aims and objectives.

According to the policy documents received here, the aims and objectives of the policy include eradication of distillation, transportation, possession, consumption and sale of illicit liquor; restricting availability of local liquor as well as IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor)/FMFL (Foreign Made Foreign Liquor); reduc ing the impact of illicit and adulterated liquor on health; reducing the demand of intoxicating drinks; addressing the menace of illegal drugs; generating employment; gen erating revenue of the state; and addressing the problem of black marketing of liquor on account of 'prohibition'.

In order to eradicate distillation, transportation, possession, consumption and sale of illicit liquor, the government is targeting to prohibit manufacture and sale of local brew/ country liquor inside Manipur without FSSAI certification; support manufacturing with FSSAI certification mainly for sale outside the state; provide technical and other support for producing quality local products; support marketing and export outside the state; and encourage manufacturing through co-operative societies, the draft said.

Towards restricting the availability of local liquor as well as IMFL, the government is planning to implement strict regulations for prohibiting sale of IMFL/FMFL/Country liquor except in the outlets licensed by the government and managed by a government agency/ license holder; issuing license for sale/serving at specified hotels and tourist spots having minimum facility (at least 20 rooms) and hygienic conditions; prohibit sale or serving of liquor to individuals/persons below 25 years of age; ensuring minimum distance (about 100 m) of liquor vendors from national highways, hospitals, educational institutions and places of worship; and implementing 'Dry days' at least once a week and on national/state holidays/any day fixed by the government, the draft further said.

In order to reduce the impact of illicit and adulterated liquor on health, the draft emphasises that regulation will ensure safety standards through FSSAI certification and scientific method of manufacturing; and institute a strong enforcement mechanism with enhanced revenues through police and excise department To reduce the demand of intoxicating drinks and their effect on health, the government would promote awareness about the harmful effects of liquor and intoxicating drinks through IEC (Information Education and Communication) activities; support organisations working towards such public awareness; and establishing of rehabilitation centres.

Towards meeting the objective of generating employment, the government would allow manufacture of beer and wine from locally available fruits and materials, mainly for export outside the state; manufacturing of local brew/ country liquor mainly for export; and apply for GI tag to promote local products outside the state, the draft said.

The government is also targeting to generate revenue from sale of local brews outside the state; excise duties from IMFL/FMFL/Country liquor; and earmark a certain percentage of revenue generated (about 10-20 per cent) for 'employment generation' schemes and projects for women and youth of the state, it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, chief minister N Biren informed that the draft guidelines for legalisation of liquor are almost completed and the same would be forwarded to the 'mothers' of Manipur for inputs and suggestions.

The CM was responding to questions from newspersons during the flagging off ceremony of 12 GPS-enabled Highway Patrol Vehicles from the Western Gate of Chief Minister's Secretariat, here.

CM Biren reiterated that liquor legalisation is meant to serve as a measure against indiscriminate sale of alcohol in the state.

It is shocking to see so-called experts making ridiculous claims on TV discussion programmes that the legalisation will see college and school students coming to classes in inebriated condition.

A paper will soon be produced to quell the tension/concern of mothers on whether the liquor will be sold on mass scale or not.

Pointing out that the legal drinking age in India is 21 years, the CM said that for the state, the age limit will be fixed at 23-25 years including denial of purchase, drinking ban in public places, academic and health institutions, lodgings with capacity for 30 people and in restaurants except at the comfort of one's own home.

No drinking and driving will be allowed.

As such, a draft of the above has been prepared and will be forwarded to the mothers within the next 1-2 days.

Their inputs and suggestions on the matter will then be collected for further rectification, he added.

Urging TV anchors to put a stop to ridiculous claims that school and college students will attend classes drunk, the CM stated that the government will not do anything harmful to its citizens.

The whole legalisation matter is to narrow down the spaces affected by alcohol and curb its effects though rigorous guidelines.

He then informed that the approval of Food Safety with regard to safe consumption level and quality will also be taken before regulating the same.

Mention may be made that hours after the state cabinet decided to partially lift the three-decade-old prohibition and a government spokesperson stated that legalisation of liquor is expected to earn a revenue of Rs 600 crore annually, various groups raised strong objections against the policy.

Demanding revocation of the government's decision, various women's organisations had been staging sit-in protests.

The Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) is also demanding rollback of the cabinet decision.

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