Govt seeks public inputs on lifting liquor ban
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 16 2022: As a follow-up to the decision taken by the state government during the cabinet meeting on September 20 which relaxed some of the prohibition on liquor in Manipur, the Excise Commissioner has issued a notice inviting opinions from the public after positive and negative concerns were raised over the relaxation.

According to the notice, any individual or civil society or NGO are to state their opinions in writing and submit the same via post or physically to Excise Commissioner, Lamphel or to the Office of the Chairperson, Expert Committee on Formulation of the White Paper on Lifting prohibition of liquor in Manipur, Lamphelpat-795004 within 7 days.

It may be recalled that the state cabinet had lifted the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991' in a meeting held on September 20 this year to legalise production and sale of liquor in the state under certain conditions.

Although many have objected to the production of local liquor, and protests were staged by Coalition Against Drugs & Alcohol (CADA) and women's organisations, the state government had justified the lifting the ban on grounds of preventing adulteration and as a form of improving the state's revenue.

Mention may also be made that despite being a dry state, liquor is available in the various parts of the state.

Some organisations have claimed that alcohol is sold openly in many shops and restaurants operating in the state.

On the other hand, as per the National Family Health Survey-5 of 2021, around 47.9 per cent of the state's population above 15 years of age consume liquor.

Of this, 42.2 per cent consists of male population in urban area.

Amidst such a situation, the state government produced a draft on Manipur Liquor Regulation Policy' in the first week of October this year which laid down a set of guidelines/ regulations pertaining to the ill-effects of consuming illegal liquor and also sale and transport of the same.

The main objective of the policy was to ban the sale of illegal liquor and instead allow legal, unadulterated liquor so as to assist revenue generation of the state.

The move also aimed to lower the black-market trade of liquor and provide job opportunities to those in need.

In this regard, CM Biren Singh had previously invited suggestions from civil society organisations and other local bodies in formulation of the draft policy.

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