Mizoram Govt To Table Bill Allowing Sale Of Locally Produced Wine, Beer

AIZAWL: The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government in Mizoram intends to present 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 mostly followed prohibition policies, seeks to balance its dry law with controlled exceptions, an official announced.

Excise and Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar will table the bill today. If passed, it will allow licensed production, sale, and distribution of wine and beer made entirely 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.

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