Aizawl: The Mizo National Front (MNF), the main Opposition party in Mizoram, has attributed high rate of HIV-positive cases in the state to opening of liquor shops.

President of the MNF youth wing and MLA Lalrinawma alleged that sexual activity increased because of rise in consumption of liquor among youths which was encouraged by opening of liquor shops by the Congress government.

He was addressing a street campaign at Tennis Court here on Saturday, a statement issued by the MNF said on Sunday.

Quoting a report of a study group - constituted by the state government to study and review the impact of the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control (MLPC) Act, 2014 - Lalrinawma said commercial sex showed an upward trend after the setting up of liquor shops.

"This very fact reveals that the number of HIV-positive people in Mizoram is high because of consumption of liquor," he alleged.

Mizoram has currently the highest HIV-positive rate in the country.

According to officials of the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society, almost 70 per cent of people living with HIV virus have contracted it through sexual contact.

MNF legislator from Aizawl West-II Lalruatkima said nearly 1,100 youths die every year and majority of them die because of consumption of liquor.

He said many women became widows and children became orphans owing to this.

After 17 years of total prohibition, the MLPC Act, that allows opening of liquor shops, came into force in January 2015.