More than two decades after becoming a dry state, Manipur on Monday legalized the sale and consumption of liquor, aiming to boost the state’s revenue as well as curb deaths due to consumption of spurious alcohol.
A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday took a decision that the government will legalize the production, manufacture, possession, export, import, transport, purchase, sale and consumption of liquor.
A government official said that Manipur expects to earn about Rs 600-700 crore annually from the sale of liquor.
A gazette notification regarding the rules and regulations regarding legalization will be issued on Wednesday, the official added.
Manipur became a dry state in 1991 after the then state government passed the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act.
The ban was partially lifted in September last year, allowing the sale and consumption of liquor in district headquarters, hotels with less than 20 beds, and export of locally produced country liquor.