Of the 98 people arrested across Mizoram on different charges, 77 alone were nabbed on charge of drunk behaviour on the first Christmas eve, after the Prohibition was lifted in the state, a senior police officer said today.
Of the 77 people arrested due to consumption of liquor, eight were from Lawngtlai town where the newly enacted liquor law was not in force and no wine shops were located in the whole district which falls within the Lai and Chakma autonomous district council areas.
The stringent Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995, imposed in the state since February 20, 1997 was replaced by the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control Act, 2014 from January 15 last and wine shops began to open from March 16.
A large number of people were arrested under the new law and were usually punished by doing social works including cleaning up of public places.
