Mizoram Church prays for sustainence of alcohol prohibition law

Aizawl, Feb 27 : A day after legislators gave a lukewarm response over a plea to continue prohibiting alcohol in Mizoram, the state’s largest church organisation has urged its members to pray for the continued implementation of the 18-year-old law.

In a statement, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church said it believes “violent crimes such as murder, rape and accidents are mostly committed under the influence of alcohol.”

“We urge all our members to pray for the success and continuation of the prohibition law,” the statement said.

The statement also recalled the church’s own assessment from 1994 (two years before Mizoram’s dry law was passed) that showed 65 per cent of the widows lost their husbands to alcohol abuse.

The state government is preparing a new law that will allow the sale and consumption of liquor in the state, albeit with stringent punishment against offenders such as those found driving while drunk. The bill is expected to be introduced in the state assembly this March.

Leaders of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, which boasts a membership of more than half the state’s 11 lakh population, had urged legislators to continue implementing the dry law during a meeting with them Tuesday.

Except for Assembly Speaker Hiphei, none of the 31 legislators present – including Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla –offered comment.

Hiphei said it was his personal opinion that the church should take a fresh view towards prohibition given the urge to drink turns many to consume spurious alcohol