Mohan Yadav Government in MP bans liquor sale in 17 religious towns

In a significant decision, the Mohan Yadav-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh has banned the sale of liquor in 17 religious towns of the state. The decision was taken in a meeting of the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Maheshwar town also known as the city of Devi Ahilyabai in Khargone district on 24 January 2025. 

The Cabinet meeting was held in the town to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyaba

In Madhya Pradesh, the sale of liquor within a five-kilometer radius on both sides of the bank of Narmada is already in place.

Towns in which liquor sales have been banned 

The government has set a target to ban the sale of liquor in the state and it will be implemented phase-wise. 

In the first phase, liquor sales will be banned in the identified Nagar Palika, Nagar Parishad, and Nagar Panchayat of 17 religious towns of the state. These liquor shops will not be shifted elsewhere and will be shut down completely.

The 17 cities include one municipal corporation, six Nagar Palika, six Nagar Parishad, and six Gram Panchayats.

Following is the list of the areas where the liquor sale has been banned

• Municipal Corporation - Ujjain Municipal Corporation
• Nagar Palika -Datia Nagar Palika, Mandla Nagar Palika,  Panna Nagar Palika,Multai Nagar Palika, Mandsaur Nagar Palika and Maihar Nagar Palika.
• Nagar Parishads -Omkareshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maheshwar, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak.
• Gram Panchayats - Salkanpur, Barman Kala Gram Panchayat, Kundalpur Gram Panchayat, Linga Gram Panchayat, Barman Khurd Gram Panchayat, and Bandakpur Gram Panchayat.

Constitutional provision regarding Liquor ban 

Article 47 of the Indian Constitution makes it the duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health. 

• It provides that the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs that are injurious to health.
• It gives power to the government (central/state) to make policies to completely ban or partially ban the sale and consumption of liquor.

States/Union Territory where it has been banned

• Many state governments/Union Territory(UT) have banned the sale of alcohol completely within their state/UT or prohibited their sale in certain areas or age groups.
• The first state to impose a total ban on the sale of liquor was Gujarat, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi who was a great advocate of the liquor ban.
• At present, Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, and Mizoram have banned the sale of liquor while in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, the sale of liquor is banned except in a few designated islands.