Eastern Equatoria State bans sale of alcohol

JUBA – Authorities in Eastern Equatoria State have banned the sale of gins and spirits as a measure to reduce death-related cases of alcohol consumption.

The ban was passed on August 5 by the council of ministers after the 40-day ultimatum given to the traders and local brewers supplying the consumers elapsed.

Royal Blue, Boss Gin, Golden Gin Star Gin, Royal Vodka, Gilbeys Gin, Sminoff, and Fun See Gin are among the banned brands of gins and spirits.

Patrick Oting Cipriano State Minister of Information and Telecommunication blamed the state’s former administration for failing to stop the excessive consumption of alcohol among the youth.

“We decided to ban it because we want to rescue the lives of our people. Most young people are not able to run or even sleep with their women because of the effects of the spirits. Others could not be able to pay the school fees for their children because of alcohol,” Oting said.

“Whether it is produced by the top government officials we are not going to uplift the ban because they are [the ones] who are manufacturing [the alcohol] and want to make money. [However,] they do not care about the lives of the ordinary citizens,’’ he added.

He said any trader who fails to abide by the ban will be fined based on the type of the business whether it is retail or wholesale. However, he did not disclose how much fine will be slapped on those who will fail to comply with the directives.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ruth Marious Buga, said the ban shall involve all the harmful alcoholic drinks sold in the market within the state.

She said the harmful gins were affecting the community indirectly in terms of health and that it has also created poverty in some families.

Ruth reiterated that the rampant criminal activities in the state were discovered to have strong links to the excessive consumption of alcohol.

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