Mizoram Govt drafts ‘Grape Wine Rules’

Beichhua said that the ‘grape wine rules’ would allow the manufacture and sale of wine made from the harvest of the grape farmers in the state.

Mizoram excise and narcotics minister Dr K Beichhua informed on Tuesday that the ‘Grape wine rules’ has been drafted and sent to the state law and judicial department for vetting.

Replying to supplementary questions, Beichhua said that the ‘grape wine rules’ would allow the manufacture and sale of wine made from the harvest of the grape farmers in the state.

He added that as per the rule, the manufacture, and sale of grape wine from grapes grown outside the state would not be allowed.

The minister said that all the opposition parties, including the Congress, Zoram People’s Movement, and the BJP signed the document saying that they agreed to the making of wine rules to facilitate the manufacture and sale of grape wines.

Notably, grape grower societies of Champhai and Hnahlan towns and surrounding villages in Myanmar border Champhai district appealed to the opposition parties to sign the document, he informed the assembly on its first day of the current session.

Meanwhile, replying to a supplementary question as to whether grape wine bottles worth over Rs 22 lakh, seized from the vendors at the Millennium Centre on May 27 by the excise and narcotics department officials, would be returned to the rightful owners, Beichhua said that the decision would be made after notification of the wine rules.

It may be mentioned here that the meeting of the Mizoram council of ministers on August 30 gave assent to the proposed wine rules which would allow the manufacture and sale of wine made from homegrown grapes harvested by the local farmers in the state.

The assent was given by the council of ministers meeting chaired by the state chief minister Zoramthanga which approved the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Draft Rules, 2022 for effective implementation of the prohibition in the state by enforcing the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019.

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