Rethinking about NLTP Act 1989

My words might be a taboo to some individuals as I specifically write about Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act but my dear fellow denizens of Nagaland, I raise voice against NLTP Act, not creating a warring amongst you and me but to think and let go if it has to…
Nagaland was declared Alcohol Free state but is Nagaland really one?
Despite Nagaland being a dry state, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6)
26.9 % of men and 1.6 % of women aged 15 and above reports to be consuming alcohol but this statistics does not even account for the countless individuals who quietly drink hidden cooped.
NLTP Act 1989 declared Nagaland as a dry state whereas the rich people, high profile individual and luxury establishments often operates with a blindfold from authorities continuing profitable businesses through Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).
What I wanted to express?
Nagaland is now entering 36 – 37 years being a dry state but there has been no positive outcome over these years instead a warring between consumers- Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA)- Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC)- Excise Department- Nagaland Police (NP) and thus the blame continues among Public- Nagaland Government which also involves the tribal Hoho/s, Students’ Body etc…. but sadly and unfortunately with this style the poor get caught and becomes poorer and poorer thus consumer gets the sickness of addiction after addiction and we loss lives here blaming and fighting, while the other states (legal selling state of alcohol) generates revenue in terms of crore and crores (500- 600 crores of excise revenue every year) with those money from Nagaland but my state is dry and thus desiccated and it’s a deadpan with this tedious Act.
Indeed! As a Christian state it is also not appropriate to legalise the NLTP Act but as your own child, I respect the church because the church built Nagaland but when it comes to reflecting the images it is also not much surprising to see as a dry state. But the prohibition hasn’t stopped drinking, it has only made illegal, unsafe and underground. Nagaland as a dry state and other legalised states; the only differences is not sold in licensed quality check but in black market at 3 times of its price. Thinking genuinely and concerning today’s youth doesn’t drink less, they are drinking more and they are drinking spurious, poisonous liquor. Going against the Act, how many deaths have we seen due to adulterated liquor? NLTP has not created a dry state, it has created a black state.
If we keep NLTP Act, liquor will still be sold illegally, unsafely and with corruptly. If we lift and regulate it, liquor sale will be controlled, quality checked, taxed and the revenue will heal our youth and it’s not a fight between churches, organisation and the youth. We are on the same side as we both want a clean Nagaland. The only differences is method – you wanted to achieve it by banning and we have seen banning has failed as we have a dry state on paper but a wet state in reality- this is hypocrisy and God hates hypocrisy.
If we cannot stop it, let us at least save our children from drinking poison.
Dear readers I am not promoting alcohol. I am promoting reality. I am promoting a regulated state, quality control, age limit, heavy taxation, and strict punishment for public nuisance- like any civilized society.
Therefore, let us be honest that NLTP Act has not stopped drinking but has stopped revenue, has stopped safety and has stopped commonsense.
Nagaland motu kha manu bi bhal motu khabo dibi
Mhayio Yanthan
Bhandari Town, Wokha; Nagaland