State-owned beverages corporation to oversee regulated sale of alcohol in Manipur

Manipur Cabinet approves MSBCL to legalise production, sale & consumption of alcohol, with strict regulations & taxation policies for public health & welfare.

The Manipur Cabinet on December 15 approved the establishment of the Manipur State Beverages Corporation Limited (MSBCL), signalling a significant shift in the State’s alcohol policy.

The creation of the corporation paves the way for legalising the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol in specific regions of Manipur, marking the end of more than 30 years of prohibition in the State.

The MSBCL would function under the State’s Finance Minister with a Board of Directors comprising key Secretaries responsible for diverse sectors such as finance, home affairs, health, education, rural development, and municipal governance. The strategy aims at ensuring a well-rounded approach to alcohol regulation, considering various facets of public health and socio-economic welfare, officials said.

Initially focusing on the retail sale of beverages, the MSBCL is expected to expand its scope to monitor the entire production and distribution chain, encompassing the manufacture, possession, purchase, sale, consumption, import-export, and transportation of beverages. 

The corporation will also oversee the standardisation and licensing for the production and sale of local liquor or Distilled Indigenous Country (DIC) liquor, prioritising quality control and legal compliance.

To regulate alcohol consumption responsibly, the Cabinet set the minimum age for production, management of shops, sale, and consumption at 25 years, significantly higher than the previous minimum age of 18 years.

Strict guidelines prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol within a 100-meter radius of educational institutions, hospitals, and places of worship. Sales would also be barred within 500 metres of national highways, except in areas under municipal governance.