Church leaders in the Christian-majority Mizoram have reacted cautiously to the government lifting a liquor ban in this state in India’s northeastern region. The state legislature, on March 10, amended the existing prohibition law amid opposition members walking out of the house protesting the change, local media reports said. However, Bishop Stephen Rotluanga of Aizawl said the Church was “not opposing the new bill completely so long as it helps to improve the economic conditions of local people.” The amendment to the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2025, seeks to allow the manufacture and supply of wine and local beer made solely from locally produced agriculture and horticulture products. The amendment, introduced by the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government, also proposes to grant special permits to foreign dignitaries and domestic tourists for possession and consumption of India-made liquor. The law, before the amendment, imposed a blanket ban on the sale, manufacture, and consumption of liquor. The previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government enacted it in 2019. Both the ZPM and MNF are indigenous parties rooted in the state, which also has a presence of India’s national parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. “I believe the government has promised to use local farm products like grapes, dragon fruit, guava, banana, etc.,” Bp Rotluanga told on March 12. But the Church will be opposed to importing any other liquor products from outside the state, the prelate added. Father Felix Antony, a former public relations officer of the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council, said consum-ption of liquor is a taboo, especially among Christians, in the entire region. “So, lifting the ban will have [the] wrong impact, especially on the well-being of families,” he said. The priest said that “as Christians, we oppose the move of the Mizoram government.” The bill faced stiff opposition from the 10 MNF, two BJP, and the lone Congress legislators, who walked out of the house in protest.