EASTERN Highlands Governor Simon Sia said the provincial government has passed a law in the provincial assembly to enable the regulation of alcohol as well as gambling in the province going forward.

“The Provincial Executive Council has passed a new Act to control the consumption of alcohol and gambling industry in EHP,” Mr Sia announced at the launching of the avocado project in Kainantu on Friday.

“It will come into effect on November 16.

“All the Vitis products, Kerosene, Knight, Mr Ethan, Lizate, Live Lave and others are totally banned under this law.”

He said the alcohol content of other allowable beverages, including those from the SP Brewery, must not be more than 6 per cent.

These alcohol products will be traded from Monday to Thursday only while no new liquor lincences will be issued, according to the governor.

He added that no new licences will be issued for betting shops and pokies houses as well.

He labels those activities as “rubbish and evil” that eat into the household income.

Mr Sia said the liquor ban in September was lifted only for October for all distributors of those high potent beverages to empty their stocks.