Kohima | March 24 : The Nagaland Government today stated that sale of local rice brew containing Ethyl Alcohol also comes under the purview of the Prohibition Act even as it has expressed inability to enforce a total ban on it taking into consideration that as practiced by the forefathers, some Nagas still continue to consume it as a part of food.
The issue was raised by Opposition Leader Tokheho Yepthomi during Question Hour when he asked as to which are the prescribed drinks that come under prohibition to which the Excise Minister replied that any liquor or liquid consisting of or containing ethyl alcohol comes under the prohibition Act as also any substance which the state government may, by notification, declare to be liquor for all purpose under the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989.
The Excise Minister further informed that the government is not contemplating to lift the prohibition even as Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio acknowledged that the prohibition has not been a success.
Opposition Leader Tokheho had questioned as to how the department can effectively enforce the prohibition when no rules have been framed. He also took a dig at the Chief Minister, accusing him of encouraging consumption of local rice brew during the Hornbill Festival when he, along with Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma were seen in newspaper clippings sipping rice beer. He had demanded that the lawmakers should uphold the laws they make instead of breaking them.
In reply, the Chief Minister silenced the Opposition when he revealed one of his secrets – that he was allergic to anything cold, including cold drinks and that he cannot even take cold water and only drinks warm or hot water. He also revealed that in fact, the pictures in the newspapers showed that of him taking warm maize drink that did not contain alcohol. The fact that he took the maize drink in bamboo mug or horn does not mean he was consuming local rice brew, he retorted.
Pointing out that all kinds of alcoholic drinks are available in the state despite the prohibition, the Opposition Leader had also claimed that only the small businessmen engaged in liquor sale and having no money to bribe are normally caught and their insignificant consignments seized whereas the big businessmen and barons continue their businesses with bribes.
However, Rio asserted that the government will continue to enforce liquor prohibition. Ever since the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989 was introduced the Excise department has shifted its main function from revenue collection and regulating role to that of enforcement.
