Juba County mulls ban on alcoholic gins, spirits

Juba County Council has hatched a plan to ban the sale of alcoholic gins and spirits as a measure to reduce mental illness and death-related cases in the city.

This comes after alcohol-related deaths were reported in the outskirts of Juba. Last month a young man was confirmed dead in Gumbo after he consuming seven bottles of Royal gin in a drinking competition. A similar incident took place in the Kator resident area last year.

Speaking at the commemoration of International Day of Mental Health, Juba County Commissioner, Charles Wani Joseph, promised to effect the ban.

He said the ban was aimed at protecting people from unnecessary deaths related to mental disorders due to excessive consumption of alcohol.

“I am serious about it because drinking [alcohol] contributes to mental and death-related issues not only in Juba but most of South Sudan,” Wani said.

“The spirits and gins are spoiling our young children. It’s our responsibility as the government to ensure our people are protected. We need to tell our young people that there is a better time in the future,” he added.

He urged the families of those children who are drinking to help them so that they can reform from the habit of alcoholism.

Documented problems

Wani added that trauma and stress among young and elderly people were on the rise because of the impact of the recent insecurity in the country.

In addition, the Central Equatoria State Coordinator of School of Primary Health Care, Mathew Labiri Lawrence, said only a few people who suffer mental illness do recover in South Sudan due to drugs and alcohol addiction.

He said medical personnel in the department of psychiatry lack training and that they were not able to give enough services as expected by the people.

 “Government should get involved in supporting the curing of the mental illness in one way or another. The department of psychiatrists is doing the best because there are people who got cured here at Juba Teaching Hospital,” Mathew stressed.

In August authorities in Eastern Equatoria State banned the importation, selling, and consumption of harmful alcohol drinks [liquor], and fermented yeast brands were also banned in the state.

Governor Louis Lobong Lojore said the decision was meant to avoid death and mental-related issues from increasing in the state.

The Gubernatorial Executive Order also regulates the Sugar trade in the State.

The 32 harmful alcoholic drinks banned include in Eastern Equatoria State are Takaya, star Gin, Guu spirit, London No1, Royal Special Gin, Mater Gin, B-52 Gin, Bond 7, V&A, Royal No1 vodka, Cheer Vodka, Uganda leading waragi, Gilbeys Gin, Smirnoff vodka, Asimara, Lion Extra Strong, Vodka mix, Royal Blue, Prime Vodka, White Tusker Vodka, Mambuka, Premium vodka, Fly Coconut vodka, Prime Kiss vodka, Ice Palace Vodka, Prime Vodka, Flirat Vodka, Golden Dry Gin, The 3 Tigers[larger beer], Fan see and Boss Gin.

The order restricted the sale of alcoholic drinks to a person under 18 years and all bars liquor stores including wholesale and retail were not allowed to employ a person below 18 years.