liquor ban
Representative image. Photo credit - New Indian Express

Mizoram is on the final stage of drafting the Prohibition Bill to replace the existing Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) or MLPC Act, 2014, according to state excise minister, Dr K Beichhua.

Also read: Mizoram government to go for total ban on liquor soon

According to reports, he told a local cable TV on Sunday that officials of the state Excise department and law experts are presently working on the Bill to ensure that it is being tabled in the upcoming Assembly session.

Dr K Beichhua also said that experts in the state’s Law department and officials of Excise department recently convened a joint meeting on the clauses and features of the draft Bill, which was referred to Law department for revision.

He added that the Law department is currently working on revision of the Bill. The minister further said that the Prohibition Bill will be tabled for legislation in the upcoming Budget Session to be held from March 12.

Notably, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) headed by Zoramthanga had promised that it would bring back ‘total prohibition’, if voted to power before the Assembly elections last year.

Beichhua said the government is committed to its pre-poll promises of imposing prohibition on sales of alcohol.

Chief minister Zoramthanga had also said that his government would legislate a stringent law to ban liquor.

The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995 that restricts the sale of alcohol was introduced by Lal Thanhawla-led Congress government in 1997 and came into force for about 17 years till 2015.