NEW DELHI — Yielding to opposition demands to preserve the region's status as a "land of sages," the local administration announced Tuesday it will implement a total ban on liquor, provided the central government fully compensates them for the cost of their newfound righteousness.

The decision marks a sharp departure from decades of official policy. According to historical records, the administration first rejected a prime ministerial request for a liquor ban in 1977, with the chief minister at the time citing the unmitigated loss of substantial revenue. As recently as 2023, the government defended the presence of liquor shops, arguing they merely catered to those whose religious beliefs permitted consumption.

The abrupt pivot toward prohibition comes amidst a "100-day drive against drugs" launched on April 11, which opposition leaders quickly leveraged to frame alcohol sales as a threat to the area's spiritual heritage.

"We have always prioritized morality over revenue," said a government spokesperson, while simultaneously submitting a detailed invoice of projected excise tax losses to central authorities. "However, a complete ban is simply not practically possible without central compensation. Our region's spiritual purity is non-negotiable, subject only to the clearance of funds."