Dry day begins in Mizoram as state moves towards total ban

The newly-elected MNF government’s decision to stop the sale of liquor from government units kicked in from Friday, forcing the Christian-dominated state of Mizoram to go through a a dry Christmas. The north-eastern state, led by Zoramthanga, has enforced the ban (dry day) till January 14, and is hopeful of bringing in a legislation for a total ban on liquor in the state, four years after the ban was lifted.

“As there’s no time for legislation now and since Christmas and New Year are just days away, we have declared dry days from December 21 to January 14. This is a prelude to the total alcohol ban which we promised to introduce during the assembly polls,” Zoramthanga told ET. The ruling Mizo Natonal Front had promised to bring back the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act (MLTP), 1995, which was replaced by tin 2014 despite opposition from church bodies and civil society groups.

The chief minister said that treatment and rehabilitation of liquor and drug-affected victims will be taken up.