Kohima: Nagaland residents are demanding an overhaul of the 1989 Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act. Recent deaths in Tuensang and Mokokchung linked to tainted alcohol triggered the backlash. A new poll shows 64 percent of 117 participants favor repealing or relaxing the law. Only 9 percent want it to stay. The rest remain undecided.
Critics claim the law is a failure. They argue it only works on paper. Bootleggers thrive while the public consumes dangerous, overpriced liquids. One respondent noted, "Prohibition has not stopped drinking; it has only changed who profits from it and what people end up drinking." Residents claim that while commoners face risks, influential figures operate hotels that sell liquor openly.
Economic drain is another major grievance. Critics suggest millions of rupees flow to Assam instead of staying in the state. They blame a mix of syndicates, corrupt officials, and ineffective police for the black market. Many argue the Nagaland Baptist Church Council should focus on rehab instead of lobbying for government policy.
Opponents of a repeal remain defiant. They argue the state needs stricter enforcement. One warned against selling what they called cancer and death. They insist the focus should be on awareness campaigns. Proponents of change, however, suggest a state-controlled system. They want quality standards, age checks, and tax revenue diverted to healthcare and schools.
Skepticism persists across the board. Some dismiss the poll as a waste of time. Others warn that legalization only benefits a small group of license holders. As one person put it, "We the public are losing with or without the Act." The state government now faces intense pressure to investigate the source of the lethal liquor and re-evaluate the decades-old ban.
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