MTLT demands evidence-based review of NLTP Act

Mokokchung, October 17 (MExN): The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) on Saturday called for a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, expressing grave concern over continuing deaths linked to spurious liquor in the state.

The MTLT urged elected representatives to take up the matter in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly “without fear or favour.” It said the demand was not for outright repeal but for an assessment of the Act’s implementation, effectiveness and impact on public welfare.

The appeal follows the deaths of three persons at Longpayimsen village on October 15 and 16, suspected to have been caused by methanol poisoning. The MTLT termed the situation as an alarming public health crisis demanding urgent and comprehensive intervention.

“However, the continuing fatalities raise a fundamental question: Can strict enforcement of the NLTP Act, 1989, alone resolve a crisis that persists despite prohibition?” MTLT President Imnaonen Pongen and General Secretary Moarenba Ozukum said in a joint statement.

The Telongjem acknowledged the prompt response of the district administration and police, including their stated commitment to a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal alcohol. However, it said the present situation cannot be attributed solely to bootlegging, adulteration or inadequate enforcement, and also exposes concerns about the effectiveness of the existing policy framework.

It said that when a prohibition policy fails to prevent illicit activities, it risks driving them underground, making regulation more difficult and exposing citizens to greater danger. The continuing fatalities, it added, also raise questions about the State’s constitutional responsibility to protect the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, which warrant careful legal and policy scrutiny with public welfare as the guiding principle.

The MTLT said placing blame on the government, the Church and civil society would serve no purpose, and that entrenched positions for or against the NLTP Act would not resolve the crisis. What is needed, it said, is a thorough, informed and constructive debate in the Assembly to examine the Act’s effectiveness and determine the way forward.

“How many more lives must be lost before meaningful legislative action is taken?” the body asked, adding that without concrete policy interventions, the circulation of spurious liquor and the resulting deaths may continue. It said the crisis demands more than enforcement alone and requires a sustainable, evidence-based response addressing illicit alcohol distribution, public safety and the wider social consequences of alcohol dependence.

The MTLT also urged the Mokokchung police to clarify the status of the investigation into the May 8, 2026 incident, in which 15,824 empty bottles of McDowell’s rum were reportedly seized during a surprise vehicle check at Sewak Gate, Mokokchung. Police had then suspected the bottles were being transported for manufacturing adulterated liquor. It called upon the authorities to establish the intended use of the bottles, determine whether they were linked to any illicit alcohol-manufacturing operation, and take appropriate action wherever wrongdoing is established.

Appealing to all consumers, whether occasional or habitual, the body asked them to exercise caution and recognise the grave dangers of consuming liquor from unverified sources. It also strongly cautioned against turning to narcotics or other harmful substances as substitutes amid the scarcity of alcohol, warning that this could precipitate another drug epidemic reminiscent of the devastating period of the 1990s. “Our society cannot afford to lose another generation to substance abuse and addiction,” it said, adding that the lessons of the past must serve as a reminder of the need for collective responsibility, foresight and decisive action.

The MTLT reiterated that protection of human life must remain the highest priority and called upon the government, district administration, law enforcement agencies, elected representatives, the Church and civil society to work collectively towards a practical and sustainable solution, through effective enforcement, responsible policymaking and a willingness to critically examine existing laws.

It urged all stakeholders to move beyond entrenched positions and work together towards a solution that safeguards human life, upholds public welfare and protects the future of society.