Stories
Odisha Halts New Liquor Shops for 3 Years, CM Majhi Vows Drug Crackdown
- •Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that no new liquor shops will open in the state for the next three years.
- •CM Majhi launched a special website for the Police Commissionerate dedicated to the 'Drug-free India' initiative.
- •He highlighted that substance abuse is a primary factor in heinous crimes and violence against women, with 2.60 lakh to 2.80 lakh deaths annually from alcohol consumption.
- •Odisha ranks second in fatalities from drunk driving, prompting CM Majhi to direct stricter measures against alcohol and high-risk drugs like cannabis, opium, and synthetic drugs.
- •The state government has banned the production and sale of tobacco, nicotine-laced pan masala, and gutkha, and declared school and college campuses 'substance-free zones'.
Key Questions Answered
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that no new liquor shops will open in Odisha for the next three years under a policy running from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2029, which also completely bans home delivery and implements strict measures against illicit and spurious liquor trade.
Odisha is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against drugs, directing police and excise administration to take strict action against alcohol, cannabis, opium, and synthetic drugs. Additionally, the production and sale of tobacco and nicotine-laced pan masala and gutkha are completely banned, and school and college campuses have been declared substance-free zones.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi noted that annually between 2.60 lakh and 2.80 lakh people die due to alcohol consumption alone, and expressed grave concern that Odisha ranks second in fatalities resulting from drunk driving. He emphasized that substance abuse is a primary factor behind most heinous crimes and violence against women.
