Imkong Walling
For the first time in years, the government has summoned the courage to toss the contentious Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 to the “consultation” table. If the prevailing pulse is any clue, there cannot be a more opportune time to take it further and seeing it through the planned course.
It is assumed that a proposal will be tabled in the Assembly at the upcoming Budget session, and, can also be that the government would shelve the plan, if the past has been any indication.
Still, there is the liberty to dwell on the pros and cons, in this case, the advantage of bringing the liquor trade to the mainstream.
As opposed to views to the contrary, the existence of Prohibition or lack of one has hardly impacted demand and consumption. To consume, is a primal tendency and, sadly, an overlooked one, when it comes to the for and against of the NLTP divide.
The moral tendency to demonise a substance, as old as antiquity, has only helped to drive its trade deeper underground, which in turn, has provided ample space to thrive unregulated i.e. non-existent quality control and loss of revenue. This is the existing situation and one that is obvious and known.
Notwithstanding the obvious justifications, one might as well view it from another angle— giving it a semblance of legitimacy.
Why a semblance of legitimacy? Legalising would introduce guidelines for regulating the trade. When it is regulated, the onus will be to introduce limitations, including stringent quality control from source to retail, implying the prerogative to keep track of import volume. This prerogative will extend to the retail points further implying that the vendors will be required by law to keep a record of how much or how many they sold.
Assuming the data would be in the public domain, and it must be so, it will serve as a demonstrable information source to gauge consumption trend. This data can be collated and put up against data related to alcohol-induced health conditions before and post NLTP. It is assumed all medical establishments keep a record of the complaints coming through its doors. Letting the data speak, taking the call, as deemed fit, would automatically follow suit.
The NLTP is not the be-all and end-all, yet, important enough, one that deserves appraisal. There is an idiom, “Strike the iron while it is hot.” The saying assumes significance like never before, especially, when juxtaposed with the ongoing debate over the contentious liquor law and the move made by the Nagaland state government.
The writer is a Principal Correspondent at The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to imkongwalls@gmail.com
