Indian state partly lifts 18yo prohibition law

As the Indian state of Kerala continues to implement its anti-alcohol policy, the northern region of Mizoram is preparing to partially lift its 18-year-old prohibition law.

The northern Indian state of Mizoram is relaxing its 18-year-old prohibition policy later this month

As reported by the Economic Times, the new Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control Act 2014 will be implemented later this month, allowing people over the age of 21 to obtain a license to buy alcohol.

Since 1997, the state has enforced a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Under the new law, permit holders are allowed to buy six bottles of spirits and 10 bottles of beer or wine each month.

Lawmakers decided to relax the state’s strict prohibition policy in order to combat the number of deaths and illnesses caused by the consumption of poisonous bootleg alcohol.

It was also hoped the measure would generate revenues for the state through excise tax.

However, some religious groups and neighbourhood authorities have vowed to fight the law.

The news of the policy comes as Kerala – the state which consumes the most alcohol in India – continues with its own plans to enforce partial prohibition.

It was revealed in August this year that Kerala’s ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) government planned to phase in total prohibition in the state within 10 years to tackle a widespread drinking problem among citizens.

The state has the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the country at 8.3 litres per person, against a national average of about 5.7 litres.

While nearly 700 bars were earmarked for closure, more than 400 bars have already been closed under the law – which allows only luxury hotels to sell alcohol – and sales of alcohol have been completely banned on Sundays.

However, last month lawmakers revealed they would be diluting their plans, lifting the ban on Sunday sales and offering a license to hotels to sell wine and beer, but not spirits.