[dropcap]A[/dropcap] decision on alcohol and whether or not Liquor Prohibition (Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989) should prevail, touch deepest emotions. The reason is understandable. Alcohol’s attractive powers for diverse reasons are extremely strong and well known. Equally strong and well known are the deep rooted fears of its awesome power to mercilessly destroy all that life can and should mean and the resources to sustain life if the chemical is misused. The notorious tendency of human beings to misuse alcohol and the consequences of misuse compel the Church, certainly NBCC, to consider prohibition too important a responsibility it cannot be treated lightly. The church knows its limitations and its inadequacies to match the complicated crisis. But it cannot ignore the role the majority of its members expect it to play.
NBCC views prohibition with serious concern that the massive impact that commercially produced and marketed alcohol will make on our fragile society barely out of our traditional past will be too destructive mentally, spiritually and socially that will undermine our economic development and sound growth in all fields. The Church is of the view that the long term consequences cannot, must not, be set aside because of immediate pressures whatever they may be.The issue of alcohol and Prohibition needs to be seen and understood correctly and wisely. Involved in the issue of prohibition are the following stake holders – the Nagas in Kohima, Dimapur and the district headquarters, the multi-national alcohol industry, State Government, civil societies and the Church.
The vast majority of the Nagas are in our villages. In all fairness they must not be drawn recklessly into the chaotic controversial crisis engulfing their people who have left for the towns. Their crisis with village-brewed alcohol wherever it is still used is being handled by them at the level vastly different from the one that is churning and raging away from the villages. The Liquor Prohibition Act is not the property of the Church. It was a response of the State Government at a given time to the deteriorating crisis harming our society. It represented the long considered conclusion of the state government that passed the Act for the protection and welfare of the people as it had perceived. It is the aspiration of the Church that the Government will do justice by dealing on the issue judiciously which will have a positive impact on the society in the long run.
“When left to itself, a society generally manages to come to terms with its favourite poison”. This observation by Aldous Huxley calls for proper understanding.
Issued by: Nagaland Baptist Church Council
