A Mizoramminister said that the state has once again become a completely dry state fromMay 28 following a new liquor law that prohibits the sale and consumption ofalcohol.

Thestate's Excise and Narcotics Minister K Beichhua said that the Mizoram Liquor(Prohibition) Bill, 2019 was passed unanimously in the state Assembly on March20. The bill that received Governor Jagdish Mukhi's assent before theparliamentary polls replaced the four-year-old Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition andControl) or MLPC Act, 2014.

Theminister also said that the laws in the new bill could not be implementedimmediately after Governor Mukhi's assent due to the Model Code of Conduct inforce for the Lok Sabha polls and Assembly by-elections.

Afterlifting the MCC by the Election Commission on Sunday afternoon, the MizoramLiquor (Prohibition) Bill, 2019 was notified on Tuesday. Minister Beichhuafurther stated that the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was committed tofulfilling its pre-poll promise made to the people before the November 28 Assemblypolls adding that they are happy that the MNF government fulfilled one of itsmajor pre-poll commitments.

Theminister said that the state government had taken the step to save futuregenerations from the menace of alcohol and drugs and establish a clean Mizosociety. He also informed that the new prohibition of sale and consumption ofalcohol in the state would lose revenue to the tune of Rs. 60-70 croreannually.