Those who were of the opinion that ‘Yes’ prohibition should continue had this to say:
• Why liquor in prohibited in Nagaland? Because it killed thousands of Naga Christians “Nagaland is for Christ” and why should we indulge on this deadly habit. If you think that you and your land (Nagaland) is for Christ don’t drink wine rather ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. However as Bible said, those who are perishing let him drink wine.
• With liquor prohibition, there is less access for the younger people. If the ban is lifted or relaxed, there will be a wildfire which will be difficult to control. I don’t buy the talks about gain in our economy, or curbing Black marketers. The question is who gains? Few will enjoy the cream while many will lose. Main problem lies in law-enforcement. It might only be a dream to completely stop use of liquor. Yet can we risk the people for 20-30% of regular users? Our people lack understanding or limit. I feel that our people are not ready for a free flow or relaxed legislation.
Those who were of the opinion that ‘No’ prohibition should not continue had this to say:
• The State needs to focus attention on other important things like unemployment, development, higher education, civic amenities etc than play moral cop and exhausting its resources in an issue which anyway is a failure. Let the individual exercise the ‘Free Will’ on whether he wants to be a drunk or a teetotaler. I am sure an educated, responsible individual will know when to stop and if the person has the means to go on a drinking spree, so be it. People don’t drink because it is available openly. The alcohol desperados will squirm into the tunnels of the black market and get their fix.
• The Government should either fully enforce the liquor prohibition or they should completely get rid of this prohibition. There is no point in relaxing the prohibition.
• Prohibition has failed. You just cannot have prohibition when alcohol is available at army camps, police battalions and with the bureaucrats.
Those who were of the opinion that it should be ‘Relaxed’ had this to say:
• There cannot be absoluteness in life. Law should be realistic and pragmatic.
