Health experts and activists want certain provisions introduced in the Alcohol Drinks Control Bill, to specifically target sale of home-brewed liquor as Ugandan parliament moves to regulate consumption of alcohol in Uganda.
On November 14, Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi presented the Alcohol Drinks Control Bill 2023 in parliament, whose objective is to regulate the sale and consumption of Alcoholic drinks in Uganda. The Bill also prohibits sale of alcoholic drinks to children under 18 years among other provisions.
While interacting with the media on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Mental Health and Control of Substance Abuse at the Ministry of Health Dr. Hafsa Lukwata expressed need to consider introduction of special provisions in the bill to cater for regulation of home-brewed alcoholic drinks like Tonto, Malwa, Kwete, Entulire and other intoxicants since their consumption too, has serious effects on the population.
Dr. Lukwata made the remarks during an orientation session for parliamentary journalists, organized under Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA), focusing on the ongoing policy dialogue to ensure strict enforcement of regulations relating to manufacturing, distribution, advertising and consumption of alcohol in Uganda.
The participants stressed support for the Alcohol Drinks Control Bill but suggested a revised narrative focused on prevention of alcohol-related harm among minors bellow 21 years, protection of the population from health, social and economic harms caused by alcohol consumption and thus reduce the disease burden of it’s sale, manufacture and consumption.
“We are concerned that locally-processed alcohol drinks are not catered for in the bill. We are saying; you need to be registered and licensed in order to brew your alcohol and a limit should be set on it’s sale. You cannot sell your alcohol everyday! That is our suggestion and it is possible. Even if you did (sell) it everyday, it has to be sold within a limited period of time.” Dr. Hafsa remarked.
She noted that consumption of home-made brew can actually pose more serious health consequences since the brewers lack competences to regulate alcohol content in the drinks; giving an example of Malwa -a potent gin to which hot water is continuously added to neutralize its potency.
For those who brew alcohol at home for consumption during traditional events like weddings, Dr. Hafsa proposes that local authorities must be involved to engage brewers to agree on a specific volume of alcohol required for a specific event.
Proponents of this regulation contend that locally/home-brewed alcohol poses a similar risk to consumers and the nation at large as factory-made alcohol drinks.
In its current form, Part IV of the bill proposes a minimum age of 18 for persons allowed to buy alcohol in Uganda but health activists propose an amendment to make it 21 years as it has been scientifically proven that the executive functions of the brain are not yet developed for any person at 18 years. They claim, consumption of alcohol at this age affects the individual’s level of decision making and judgement.
In their proposals, health activists want prohibition of sale of alcohol drinks through automated vending machines or other online systems unless there is verification of age of the purchaser. They also propose a fine not less than UGX.1million or imprisonment for a term not less than a year (or both) if a person is found in contravention of this provision.
The proposed law currently before parliament prohibits sale of alcoholic drinks before 5PM but also not beyond 10PM on working days. The bill also sets midnight as the time limit for sale of alcohol drinks on weekends.
Findings in the 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) report ranked Uganda first in Alcohol consumption on the African continent with a Ugandan consuming 12.21 litres of pure alcohol annually on average.
Activists say, the effects of Alcohol consumption go beyond the consumer the same way it applies to tobacco and other psychotropics substances including low productivity among alcohol consumers, health-related risks and increased cases of gender-based violence.