The total liquor Prohibition Act in the state of Nagaland was introduced in 1989. Seen here is image of police personnel destroying IMFL seized from highways and illegal shops. With 90% of the population in Nagaland being Christians, the question of whether the prohibition should be lifted or not is been debated. (Morung File Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 11
The issue of Prohibition of liquor in Nagaland and whether the ban should be lifted or not is a very complex issue. Many citizens felt that an open debate would be appreciated and The Morung Express Weekly Poll question “What should the Nagaland government do?” certainly helped address the issue.
For the 8% voters that chose ‘others’ as the option to the question, many felt that the government is really in a fix, it just can afford to lift prohibition, and yet at the same time it does not have the resources to enforce prohibition. A voter suggested that at the moment, the best solution is to have a win-win approach to this issue and added that nowhere in the world has prohibition worked other than a few Islamic states where culturally liquor is not acceptable. But for the Nagas which has a cultural history of local brew, the prohibition is more difficult to implement. The voter shared that the best way right now is to find a middle approach to this problem, if we can’t even check the free flow of liquor how can we detect the adulterated and spurious ones posing greater danger to public health. Alcohol-related crime and accident rates and domestic violent aren’t only the church concern but every right thinking citizens concern and the law enforcing agency with its ways and means will take care of them too.
A lawyer also opined “I feel that the lifting of prohibition may have dangerous consequences and to enforce prohibition would be almost totalitarian. Therefore the state government must enact new rules to supplement the old act, such as permitted age limit to drink alcohol i.e. generally 21 years of age, measuring level of alcohol for suspected drivers i.e. by using physical drill and technology used by police elsewhere, arresting person disturbing public peace under influence of alcohol and also specific penalties and fines be imposed by the police and the court assigned the job. The same act should also be applied to the drunk police personnel as well.”
Some voters also felt that the arguments presented by both the pro-prohibition and anti-prohibition supporters are shallow and have nothing to do with prohibition in the first place. Also, “Nagaland is rich in natural resources and only if the government were dedicated and serious about developing these resources, it would not need to worry about the loss revenue from prohibition. Nagaland government has enough options to develop and get sufficient revenues from other sectors, but no doubt, alcohol provides easy revenue because infrastructure is not required. The reason of revenue is not a good enough reason. It is a cheap reason.” Also voters commented that paradoxically, prohibition was introduced to reduce violence, crime and moral decay of the society, but instead, prohibition has only increased violence, crime, mafia, smuggling and introduced other kinds of addiction. So both the sides – pro and anti – of prohibition have presented very damning arguments. It is time an objective inquiry must be set up to look into the pros and cons of prohibition. The church cannot also take a higher moral position when its very position has led to more violence and crime. The church must listen to the ground situation. It cannot remain aloof.
64% voted that Prohibition should be lifted and from this category, the voters opined, “What’s the meaning of Prohibition when all the brands of alcohol are found in every shops, hotels and restaurants with higher price? Please lift it. Drinking is a personal choice and it’s an individual right,” a voter stated. A voter also reasoned that alcohol related health complications seem to be increasing among the people. “Why can we not lift the liquor prohibition and emphasis on educating the harms of alcohol ... making use of alcohol a personal choice, make rehabilitation facilities and let those who drink , drink quality stuff and not spurious liquors which damages their system faster” the voter asked.
“Alcohol prohibition is a total failure, other states laugh at us because of this tall claim. We must stop producing more sinners. I suggest lifting of ban and allow limited wine store in town that is licensed and regulated government” stated another voter.
Many voters felt that the education system in Nagaland really lacks in teaching young students to take responsibilities. “If educational institutions impart values such as taking responsibilities from an early age, the question of prohibition will not even arise. So for those advocating for prohibition, people know that by imposing prohibition, it does not mean that those who drink will stop drinking, because they will always find a way to get booze. Instead, it is better to impart qualities of taking responsibilities and self-discipline, and this will have the desired affect to protect our society from the ills of addiction.”
For those among the 28% voters who voted to ‘enforce prohibition’ it was felt that Nagaland needs to reinforce prohibition because improving economic condition of the family and maintain peaceful family life is more important than earning revenue of the government. A voter suggested the idea of having a huge open debate before such huge decision is moved stating that the 60 Legislative Members alone should not decide this and cannot since they do not have the moral authority. Revenue loss itself is not a good reason enough.
A teacher from a school in Dimapur also cited that it was because of the prohibition that school children have not been drinking. The teacher stated “I do not know about the revenue, the moral biblical etc, but this to me is a huge issue in our doorstep and just cannot lift the Prohibition without thinking of all these social implications.” Likewise just because Prohibition Act is not effectively working does not mean that we have to Lift the Act. We need to first see why it is not working before taking such an action. A voter expressed, “It is an invitation for poverty and unemployment. Because it will make the rich richer and the poor only poorer and wretched. It will give employment to the bar owner but oh our youths they will go down to drains and gutters drunk!!!” Another voter agreed that the Act is ineffective and there is huge revenue loss, so the Government makes the people into believing wrongly. But the truth is Lifting Prohibition will be the ‘White Elephant’ for the state. Hence enforce the Prohibition before more legislation is enacted.
Many voters also felt that in the name of modernization we can’t simply joined the bandwagon that claims that in 21st century the role of church is diminishing and irrelevant (studies and events worldwide have shown this is incorrect claims) without really understanding Naga social and cultural context. If the Church or NBCC goes tomorrow, the fabric that holds or unify the Naga diverse/ multi- tribes society will go into chaos because we are still evolving as a society and there is nothing in place. While obviously the Church cannot force people not to drink, except through personal guidance and counseling etc, the Church has every right to explore every means even if it means Enforce Prohibition to mitigate the flow of liquor in Nagaland and instead of opposing the Church or civil society that works independently for the people, the Nagaland state Government should extend its machineries at their disposal to such organizations to serve the people for which they are formed and elected at the first place.
Voters also argued that the Prohibition Act failed because the implementing agencies are not doing their duties which they are legally bond to perform. “I say before we revoke the prohibition we put pressure on the Government to instruct the implementing agencies to do their duty. It’s high time to get serious about enforcing prohibition. This will mean even ensuring that the army canteens and police stations and the likes of it should strictly ban the sale of alcohol” suggested a voter and added that Government’s apathy is the biggest hindrance to Liquor prohibition.
