Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Tuesday said that the recent rule change on grape wine was done with the consent of various political parties.

The Mizoram Liquor Prohibition rules notified on 7 September allowed the manufacture, sale, and export of grape wine processed from locally grown grapes.

Processing, sale, and export of grape wine were previously prohibited under the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, which came into force in the state, except in three Autonomous District Council (ADC) areas in the southern part of the state, in May 2019.

The chief minister on Tuesday paid a visit to a grape winery set up by Champhai Grape Growers’ Society (CGGS) at Tlangsam village in Champhai district, about 191 km from the state capital Aizawl.

Mizoram CM Zoramthanga. (Credit: DIPR Mizoram)

During an interaction with leaders of the grape growers’ society, Zoramthanga said that grape wines are being manufactured legally following the recent notification of grape wine rules by the government after it was approved by several political parties in the state.

He said that the government is contemplating fixing the price of grape wine.

Zoramthanga said that the Mizo National Front (MNF) government has been taking measures for the welfare of grape growers since its previous term and had waived a loan amounting to over Rs 83 lakh owed by CGGS in November 2020.

Apart from grapes, Champhai district has a great potential for the production of other fruits, vegetables, and different species of orchids because of its vast forest areas, sufficient rainfall, and climate, the chief minister said.

The Mizoram state council of ministers had approved the draft rules this year in September.

The notification came as a result of protest and public outcry triggered by the seizure of huge quantities of bottled grape wines from shops in Aizawl in May this year.

The government had seized huge quantities of locally manufactured grape wine at Aizawl’s shops in May, which sparked outrage in the state with Champhai Grape Growers’ Society demanding the return of the seized bottled grape wines.

The society had also demanded that grape wines be sold freely.

Replying to a question from VL Zaithanzama of Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), Excise Minister K Beichhua told the assembly that Excise duty will be charged on the locally processed grape wine.

Manufacture and sale of wine from grapes grown outside the state would not be allowed under the rules, the minister said.

Five years after wine shops were opened legally in Mizoram under the erstwhile Congress government, the state became a dry state in 2019 as the Mizo National Front (MNF) government headed by Zoramthanga implemented The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019 fulfilling its pre-poll promises.

The MLP act came into force in May 2019.

Under the prohibition law, selling, manufacture, consumption and export of liquor and any liquid containing alcohol is prohibited.

Natural grapes are mainly grown in Champhai and Hnahlan areas in eastern Mizoram.