Kohima: Nagaland’s 35-year-old liquor ban is failing. Suspected bootlegged alcohol recently killed multiple people in Tuensang and Mokokchung districts, triggering urgent calls to scrap the NLTP Act of 1989. The status quo is deadly. Instead of stopping drinking, the law created a massive, dangerous underground market.
Researcher Dr. Kanato Chophy says the state must stop pretending the ban works. The proximity to Assam makes total prohibition impossible to enforce. Bootleggers now mix toxic home-brewed concoctions in small towns across the state. Chophy suggests a move toward regulated sales. He believes the government needs a dedicated officer to oversee a sensible policy. As he put it, “Honestly, total prohibition cannot work practically in Nagaland.”
The Kripa Foundation calls the current law an absolute failure. Director Abou Mere says the government ignores its duty to protect public health. He wants a shift from law enforcement to a system focused on safety. This would mean strict licensing, legal age limits, and rehab services. Mere also wants faith-based groups to step up. He says churches must address alcohol dependence within their own congregations instead of just pushing for a ban.
Critics point out that issuing advisories after people die is a mockery of governance. Rev. Dr. Meyu Changikiri of the North East India Christian Council agrees that the focus must move to harm reduction. He wants a collective response that prioritizes treatment and education over failed policies. The consensus is clear. A law that creates an unregulated, lethal supply chain is no law at all.
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