A high-level meeting was convened today to work out a mechanism of regulating liquor in Manipur at the Chief Minister Secretariat. During the meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, an expert committee on formulation of white paper on regulating liquor apprised the Cabinet Ministers about their findings and the growing need to implement an appropriate liquor policy through power point presentation.
By James Khangenbam 9 April 2023 Imphal:
State authority discusses on Liquor Policy
As per the findings of the expert committee, some locally brewed liquors were found containing toxic chemicals while comparing with Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brought from other States. Through the PowerPoint presentation, the committee also showed that many habitual drinkers died of liver diseases in Manipur as majority of the local brewers don’t practice quality control.
Discusses on Liquor Policy
The attendees of the meeting also held discussion on health hazards and other negative impacts of consuming adulterated liquor, following which the expert committee tabled that the rate of deaths and infection by liver disease and other ailments caused by consuming adulterated liquor will decline considerably if the practice of selling and brewing liquor is regulated properly.
The committee went on to mention that the prohibition placed on liquor in Manipur is ineffective and as such it would be more productive to regulate it by fixing a legal drinking age and implementing alcohol law strictly. Saying that there is a misconception among a section of people that lifting prohibition will lead to more demand for alcohol in the State, the expert committee explained that regulating liquor will be better for the society as a whole.
Many students in the age group of 15 to 19 drink liquor habitually as per the findings, the committee explained to the Chief Minis- term and the Cabinet Ministers. The presentation concluded by observing that regulating liquor will be a better option than prohibiting it.
The expert committee, on the other hand, said that submission of an official report of their findings will take some time. After the meeting, the Chief Minister, in his Facebook post, said that the Government will share the findings of the expert committee to the public soon.
The State Government decided to partially lift the ban on brewing, consumption and sale of liquor to boost the State’s revenue as well as minimize health hazards caused by the consumption of illicit alcohol on September 21 last year.
