Aizawl, December 18: Keeping the poll promises, Zoramthanga-led MNF government on Tuesday announced to ban the sale of liquor by government sale unit with immediate effect. With this decision, the Christian majority state would have a dry Christmas this year.

The decision was taken during the first cabinet meeting held in the state capital, and it was also decided to put a carpet ban for private vendors on the sale of liquor from December 21 to January 14. Mizoram Assembly Elections 2018 Results: MNF Wins Majority, Erodes Congress From Last Northeast State.

Earlier in 1997, the sale of liquor in the state was banned when congress was in power, but during their tenure in 2015, congress lifted the ban by issuing a regulated liquors access through the Mizoram liquor prohibition and control act, 2014.

In the electoral promise in the recently held assembly elections, Zoramthanga had supported the church which wanted the total prohibition of liquor sale in Mizoram. Taking the oath as chief minister for the third time, it was the first major decision that Zoramthanga took in the interest of the state.

Speaking to the media, after the meeting, the cm said, as reported by NDTV, “we have decided to stop the sale of alcohol by government agencies immediately. As for the private players, it is not possible immediately and we need legislation that will take some time. So as an interim measure we have decided that December 21 to January 14 will be dry days.”

With the ban in place again, an annual loss of Rs 70 crore is expected to the state exchequer. Reports say that alcohol sales brought in around Rs 200 crore as revenues for the state government between 2015 and 2018.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 18, 2018 10:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).