30 Aug 2018

Residents of Kasane have expressed mixed feelings about alcohol sale and its consumption.

Speaking during a consultative exercise by one of the teams currently touring the country to get views of Batswana on the alcohol levy review on August 22, some residents were of the view that alcohol should be banned while others felt it should instead be strictly regulated.

Ms Ruth Namakando said in Kasane the use of alcohol was a problem as it leads to fights, murders and the use of offensive language. She further said alcohol should be banned in the country, noting that the youth were acting irresponsibly because of alcohol consumption.

She said some of the young people had turned into alcohol addicts.

Ms Kashibi Siyoba was of the view that alcohol should be banned and all alcohol industries in order to build a responsible nation. Mr Eric Mutafela said the alcohol industry has created jobs for some people and banning it could results in people losing their jobs.

He however suggested that instead law enforcers should be strict in ensuring that the stipulated liquor trading hours were adhered to. He also said alcohol retailers should strictly observe the age limit of people allowed to buy alcohol.

Another resident, Mr Machana Marumo said prior to enforcing stringent measures on alcohol and its consumption, the government should find out why people sell alcohol and ways that could replace the sale of alcohol because a number of households generated their income from selling alcohol.

He further said becoming too strict with the hours of selling alcohol would lead to people engaging in binge drinking, a thing that he said was unhealthy for the nation. Mr Marumo also said if the government becomes too strict on alcohol, people would always come up with alternative ways to replace alcohol such as drugs.

He suggested that clubs should be permitted to operate until 6am to ensure the safety of revelers.

Mr Matlhomola Mowa shared the sentiments that clubs should operate until sunrise, citing wild animals in Chobe, adding that people from the clubs were involved in fatal accidents involving wild animals.

Ms Priscilla Sakoreng decried that in some instances, regulations on alcohol were not enforced as some police officers were customers at places that deal on alcohol illegally. Mr Kaboyaone Sarefo suggested that places such as night clubs should be compelled to be  sound-proof because they produce a lot of sound.

He further suggested that traditional beer dealers should be charged a fee for the permit, adding that the fee should be given to the Village Development Committee that the dealer operates on. Kgosi Tshegofatso Samoka suggested that just like tobacco advertising, the advertisement of alcohol should be regulated.

He further said alcohol should be banned, but since it created employment for other people and also contributed to the economy of the country, the levy should be increased and the percentage of alcoholic content reduced.

He said an uniformed agency should take over the enforcement of the Liquor Act from the police because it was easy for people who contravened the liquor laws to conceal their acts when they saw the police in their uniform.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Thuso Wasetso indicated that the kgotla was inundated with cases emanating from alcohol usage such as the use of vulgar language and people drinking in public places.

Earlier, a member of the alcohol levy review team, Mr Bonang Batekele said the government tasked 27 teams to go around villages in all health districts and consult all relevant stakeholders on alcohol consumption, interventions currently being implemented by the government to reduce alcohol harm, whether alcohol levy should be reduced or increased and where should traditional beer be sold, among other issues.

Meanwhile in the Chobe District, the team made public consultations in Kasane, Parakarungua and Pandamatenga, visited Kazungula Parents Teachers Association and interviewed the tribal leadership in the district. ENDS