TUOPHEMA — Students debated on the controversial Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, at the ongoing 30th biennial general conference of the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) at Touphema village on Saturday. A debate on the topic: “Is it time to lift the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act?” was held in one of the segments of the conference. Students speaking in favour of the motion asserted that it was high time to lift the NLTP Act, which totally prohibits possession, sale, consumption, export, import and manufacture of liquor in Nagaland. They argued that despite the Act being passed 34 years ago by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, liquor is available across the state and its consumption has only increased. “It is high time we stop fooling ourselves,” said one student, adding that the Act has only given rise to more illegal activities “which is a mockery to our so-called dry state”. The introduction of NLTP Act has led to increase in the price of liquor and quality compromised, they argued, adding that adulterated alcohol is harmful for human consumption, resulting in serious health hazards. Claiming that the number of people in 15-49 age group in Nagaland who consume alcohol is...