Senior church leaders defend Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act; caution against relaxation

Senior church leaders have strongly defended the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, cautioning that any move to relax or dilute the law would endanger the spiritual, social and moral fabric of Naga society.
In a joint statement, senior church leaders- Rev. Dr. N. Paphino, Rev. Dr. P. Dozo, Rev. R. P. Murry, Rev. Kari Longchar, Father Chacko, Father Dr. Anto and Rev. Moses Murry said it was “time to promote spirituality, morality and vitality” for the present and future generations, including youth, children and souls yet to be born. They asserted that every sensible and right-thinking person should support the NLTP Act, given the evil effects of alcohol.
They maintained that instead of discussing lifting or relaxing the prohibition in specific districts or areas, it was high time to tighten enforcement and strengthen implementation. Stating that the Act represented common human, spiritual and moral values, the leaders said society must collectively uphold it.
Highlighting the social impact of alcohol, the leaders said liquor consumption leads to divided families and distortion in social premises, discipline and law-and-order problems in public spaces including government corridors. The leaders said that considering the far-reaching consequences of alcohol abuse, it was high time to revisit the NLTP Act with appreciation and strengthen strategies for its effective implementation.
They cautioned that regret would come too late if the present generation allowed the erosion of fundamental human values.
Terming the NLTP Act a “timely historic and divine act” rooted in church-led prayer, fasting and sacrifice, seeing the harmful impact of liquor on society, the signatories said it would be a grave danger to challenge prohibition since it was based on biblical foundation (Prov. 20:1; 23:31–32; Jer. 35:6; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 5:18) and enacted by the state for the welfare of future generations.
They described NLTP as “a spiritual issue- relationship with God, social issue- peace and love in family and society, educational matter- unaffected brain for quality education, moral issue- liquor evil is the graveyard of morality and civic matter- refined society is the need.”
The leaders maintained that the NLTP aligns with biblical teachings on socio-ethical decency and promotes legal awareness among citizens. They stated that by violating the prohibition, deliberate and wilful bootleggers bring a curse upon themselves and accountable for destroying social sanctity and moral values (Luke 17:2).
Citing James 4:17, the leaders said this verse was speaking to people that oppose the Act of great value which states: ““Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins”.