The state government’s decision to temporarily loosen the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, which would permit the sale and consumption of alcohol during the current Hornbill Festival, has drawn strong criticism and opposition from the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC). Using particular Act sections that permit alcohol for medical purposes and restrict its sale to military personnel and hotels exclusively, NBCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho condemned the move, arguing that it was not in line with what the Act had intended for Nagaland.
Financially speaking, proponents of repealing the Act contend that the advantages of prohibition are outweighed by the revenue losses to surrounding states. On the other hand, detractors, like as the NBCC, highlight the moral and social harm that alcohol causes by bringing up instances of dysfunctional families and social unrest. Rev. Keyho said that tourists come to Nagaland to experience its rich cultural legacy, not to drink alcohol, and questioned the need to alter the legislation for them.
He made the case that promoting the state’s distinctive, tradition-based character should come before meeting the need for alcohol. The NBCC is adamant that alcohol damages social cohesion and calls on the government to put cultural and social values ahead of immediate financial gain. While visitors would depart, Rev. Keyho cautioned that the effects of the Act’s relaxation will persist and affect communities and families long after the festival is over.
