Mizoram could allow sale of beer and wine; may get first Five Star soon

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said on Friday (February 21) that the government was planning to amend the liquor prohibition law, which has been in force since May 2019, to allow the sale of wine and beer in the state. During a discussion on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address in the assembly, Lalduhoma said his government had no intention of lifting the ban on hard liquor, but was planning to regulate the sale of wine and beer.

He added that a bill to amend the prohibition law will be introduced in the assembly during the ongoing budget session. “Our excise and narcotics minister will introduce an amendment bill to the existing prohibition law to regulate the sale of beer and wine, during this ongoing budget session,” he said, according to PTI.

The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act was enacted by the previous MNF government in 2019, which replaced the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) Act, 2014, brought by the then Congress government, allowing the sale of wine in the state.

Also read | Mizoram has enough tourism potentials, will help promote state and other destinations in Northeast

The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act imposed a blanket ban on the sale, manufacture and consumption of liquor, including wine and beer, in the state, barring three autonomous district councils.

In September 2022, the government allowed the manufacture, sale and export of wines processed from locally-grown grapes following massive protests by grape growers.

The first wine shop in Mizoram was opened in 1984. After 11 years of relaxation and partial prohibition, the then Congress government introduced The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995, which imposed a complete ban on liquor.

Also read | Tourists flock to Northeast India, another destination sees rise in footfalls

The total prohibition remained until 2014 when the government allowed the sale of wine. The prohibition in the Christian-majority state is blamed for the prevalence of drug abuse among a large section of the youth.

Meanwhile, Mizoram minister Pi Lalrinpuii said in the state assembly on February 21 that the government is planning to turn the state-run Chaltlang tourist lodge in Aizawl into a five-star hotel. Chaltlang is one of the finest government-owned lodges in the state, which will be given to private agencies, she said. The government decided to privatise the lodge to ensure that Mizoram has a well-furnished and well-equipped hotel, she added.

In November last year, Lalrinpuii said that the state is in dire need of five-star hotels to host international and national events. A tender will soon be floated to hand over Chaltlang tourist lodge to private agencies for turning it into a five-star hotel, officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)