Odisha Govt Debunks Liquor Ban Rumors, Warns Against Fake News

The Odisha government on Saturday debunked widespread social media rumours about an impending statewide liquor ban.

The viral post claimed that from August 15 (Independence Day), all outlets selling India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country liquor would be shut down.

This misinformation sparked a significant public outcry, with many condemning the alleged decision.

In response, the Information and Public Relations Department took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the situation, emphasizing that the news was entirely false and misleading. The department urged citizens to rely on official government communications for accurate information.

ସାମାଜିକ ଗଣମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ପ୍ରସାରିତ ହେଉଥିବା ଏହିଭଳି ଫେକ୍ ନ୍ୟୁଜ୍ ପ୍ରତି ସଚେତନ ରୁହନ୍ତୁ। ସବୁବେଳେ ସରକାରୀ ସୂତ୍ରରୁ ପ୍ରଦତ୍ତ ତଥ୍ୟ ଉପରେ ଗୁରୁତ୍ବ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ। ଏହିଭଳି ମିଥ୍ୟାଗୁଜବ ପ୍ରସାରଣରୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ ରୁହନ୍ତୁ। ଏହା ବେଆଇନ ଅଟେ। pic.twitter.com/w5we0IDyGa

— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) June 15, 2024

“Beware of such fake news circulating on social media. Always trust facts and data from official sources,” the post read. The department also issued a stern warning against spreading such rumours, highlighting that it is illegal.