Aizawl: The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government in Mizoram plans to introduce a Bill in the state assembly to amend existing laws and permit the sale of locally manufactured wine and beer made from fruits and rice.
The state, which has largely adhered to prohibition policies, seeks to balance its dry law with controlled exceptions, an official announced.
Excise and Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar will table the Bill on Wednesday. If passed, it will allow licensed production, sale, and distribution of wine and beer exclusively made from Mizoram’s fruits and rice.
Additionally, the Bill proposes regulated sales of undistilled country liquor, including Mizo traditional alcoholic beverages.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma clarified that the ban on hard liquor sales under the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019, will remain intact.
“Our government will not permit the opening of liquor shops but will regulate the sale of locally produced wine and beer,” Lalduhoma said, adding that consultations with the state’s influential churches have yielded their consent for this measured change.
The ZPM government had announced plans to review the prohibition law last year, citing its economic impact.
While calls to lift the liquor ban entirely have persisted, the government has firmly rejected such demands.
Mizoram reimposed prohibition in 2019 under the Mizo National Front (MNF) government after a brief four-year period that allowed liquor sales.
The current law prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol, except in specific cases.
Supporters of the prohibition review argue that strict laws have not curtailed alcohol-related issues and highlight Mizoram’s limited revenue streams.
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However, the state’s churches and community organisations have historically championed stringent prohibition policies, making Mizoram largely “dry” since India’s independence.
The state has experimented with partial prohibition in the past. In 1984, wine shops were allowed to operate under the Mizoram Excise Act of 1973, but these were shuttered in 1987.
The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act of 1995 imposed a complete ban in 1997. A shift in 2015 briefly legalised wine shops, but the MNF government reinstated the prohibition policy in 2019 following its election promise.
With this new Bill, Mizoram aims to create a middle ground by supporting local industries while adhering to its cultural and societal values.
