The Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Council (AKMWC) has called for scrapping the existing Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 (NLTP Act) in its present form, stating that total prohibition has failed in practice and has instead fueled illegal trade, corruption, and public health crises in Kohima.
In a statement issued by its President, Thejao Sekhose, General Secretary, Hukato Chishi H, and Press Secretary, Netzokhotuo Belho, the Association observed that despite the enactment of the NLTP Act in 1989, liquor continues to flow into Nagaland unabated. It stated that Kohima remains inundated with what it described as “toxic and spurious liquor” available round the clock throughout the year, despite persistent efforts by Ward and Colony Councils and their subordinate bodies to curb the menace.
The AKMWC highlighted that periodic surprise raids, penalties, warnings, public shaming, destruction of illicit stock, and even expulsion from localities have failed to produce lasting deterrence. The Government, it noted, has repeatedly cited manpower shortages and enforcement limitations as major constraints.
According to the Association, the Act, though well intentioned, did not adequately account for predictable human behaviour, and no jurisdiction has successfully enforced absolute prohibition without leakage. “Even states and nations claiming absolute prohibition confront smuggling, illicit distillation and substitution with narcotics such as Khap, Opium and other substances,” it said adding, “Total prohibition, in practice, is fiction”.
The Association disclosed that during its General Body Meeting held in September 2024, an in-depth discussion was conducted on the impact of the NLTP Act. A subsequent survey reportedly revealed that more than 500 illegal liquor outlets were operating across the 19 wards of Kohima.
The statement alleged that mineral water shops, juice stalls, pan shops, and even residential quarters were clandestinely selling spurious and adulterated liquor at exorbitant prices, often through intermediaries and late-night deliveries.
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The AKMWC warned that the consequences have been severe, citing early deaths, chronic illnesses, youth drifting toward cheaper substance abuse, corruption within governmental agencies, and the strengthening of criminal elements. In view of these findings, the Association, during its General Body Meeting on June 9, 2025, resolved to advocate scrapping the NLTP Act in its current form.
The AKMWC has proposed a regulatory framework based on practicality and past experience aimed at achieving the core objectives of the Act without perpetuating what it described as systemic failure. Among the measures proposed are replacing blanket criminalisation with a tightly regulated licensing system, capping the number of outlets district-wise, empowering wards and villages with statutory veto powers over retail establishments, prohibiting sales near educational and religious institutions, mandating strict age verification and quantity limits, restricting sale hours and days, imposing high excise duties earmarked for addiction treatment, rehabilitation, and sustained public health awareness.
The Association also recommended the establishment of a digital supply tracking mechanism to prevent diversion and called for severe penalties against illicit distillation, adulteration, and smuggling.
Further, the AKMWC expressed concern over recent attempts by certain religious groups to dismiss public discourse on the issue as a “whirlwind of public opinion” terming it “unfortunate and unacceptable” in a secular democratic society.
It maintained that attempts to block amendments to the NLTP Act serve neither God or man.
