India’s Meghalaya state legalises licensed production, sale of traditional fermented beverages 

INDIA – The Meghalaya government has approved a new rule permitting the legal production and sale of traditional fermented alcoholic beverages under a licensing framework. 

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the rule applies only to fermented local drinks made by indigenous communities, such as bitchi, and excludes distilled liquor, which is governed separately. 

“Until now, there was no legal framework to regulate or support our traditional fermented beverages,” Sangma said after a State Cabinet meeting.  

“We are recognising and promoting local fermented brews by giving individuals, entrepreneurs, societies, and firms a chance to get a proper licence to produce and sell.” 

He added that the initiative is expected to boost local enterprises and tourism while ensuring quality-controlled production and safeguarding traditional knowledge systems.  

“This is a step forward in preserving tradition, empowering local entrepreneurs, and responsibly tapping into our rich heritage,” he said. 

The move comes against a backdrop of research highlighting the potential of traditional brewing as a viable industry. A 2017 study published in Nature Scientific Reports found that traditional home-based brewing in Sikkim and Meghalaya could be developed into a robust sector with adequate scientific and technical support. 

Researchers identified a rich diversity of microbes in “starter cultures” — preparations used to initiate fermentation in ethnic foods and beverages. The study examined “marcha” and “thiat,” traditionally prepared starter cultures of Sikkim and Meghalaya, using next-generation DNA sequencing. 

These indigenous methods preserve native microbes in dry, flattened, or round forms and are common in ethnic communities across South-East Asia, including regions in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. 

Officials say the new licensing system will help formalise and modernise this traditional craft while maintaining its cultural authenticity. 

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