Nagaland: DUCCF notes church silence on exemption of NLTP Act for Hornbill

The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act Repeal Committee under the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation on Wednesday renewed its call for the government to review the State’s 36 year prohibition policy, arguing that the ban has failed to achieve its objective and instead expanded the illicit alcohol trade.
He questioned the ten-day relaxation of the NLTP Act for the Hornbill Festival,that if policy adjustments could be made for tourism, then a comprehensive review was long overdue.
He pointed out that while churches consistently oppose lifting NLTP Act, he wondered why they have chosen to remain silent against the recent exemption of the Act during Hornbill. Zaivikho reminded the church to maintain consistency on its stand over the NLTP Act.
Addressing the press at the Nagaland Council Dimapur (NCD) office Wednesday, committee convenor Zasivikho Zakiesato informed that nearly 90 percent of the consolidation process on the issue was complete, with the final round of consultations scheduled for January 2026.
He maintained that ground assessments indicated the prohibition had caused more harm than good, pointing out that alcohol remained widely accessible despite the ban.
He also said that if almost 95 percent of stakeholders preferred regulation instead of prohibition, then persisting with the dry law would only worsen the situation.
Zakiesato claimed that more than 2700 bootleggers were operating in Dimapur, supplying adulterated liquor that posed serious health risks.
DUCCF vice president Tonzuk Pongen said the State must admit that the Act had not fulfilled its purpose, noting the rise in nightclubs, substance abuse and underground supply networks despite prohibition.
He said the appeal for repeal was for the safety of future generations and called for a transparent regulated system instead of indirect encouragement of illegal trade. The committee would submit its final memorandum after the January consultation.