11 Jun 2026

Government has  no  intent to increase the alcohol levy instead,  it will focus  on how the  industry  can benefit from the proposed 24-hour economy.

First introduced as a public health and revenue measure, Botswana’s alcohol levy currently  stands at 35 per cent on the cost of production for locally manufactured and imported alcoholic beverages.

The figure is a decrease from 55 per cent and serves to boost investor confidence as well as support the local beverage industry.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by Kgalagadi Breweries Limited management on Thursday, President Advocate Boko said government was yet to review the alcohol levy rates  but nonetheless, empathised the importance of responsible consumption of the  product.

“ I do not think  government will be looking at increasing the alcohol levy rates anytime  soon and if there would  be any discussion on the matter, it could be on decreasing the levy rate,” he said.

With KBL anticipating a 25 per cent profit decline  in the first quarter as retailers continue to struggle with market instability,  President Boko noted that the advent of a 24-hour economy would  present a  glimmer of hope and boost economic activity though it was evident that the  current economic challenges had an impact on house hold spending.

He nonetheless highlighted that the current economic hurdles could be a blessing in disguise, that challenged the country to snap out of the complacency of a mono-sectorial economy and speed up the economic diversification drive.

“We now have to appreciate in a very practical and real way what it means to diversify, and have to diversify under the pressure of calamity, which calls for all stakeholders to be hands on deck,” said President Boko.

He said the growth and diversification of the economy would attract links and connections with all sectors, as government had taken the first step of easing travel of all goods and services.

Additionally, President Boko noted that unregulated online gambling was emerging as a real and imminent threat in all facets of life as the digital space had made it easily accessible.

AB-InBev (a subsidiary of SA Miller) president, Mr Richard Rivett-Carnac, stated that the alcohol industry was one of the major contributor to the global economy and Botswana was no exception with the industry contributing P2.4 million to the GDP and almost P6 billion annually in tax revenue.

He said the alcohol industry continued to accelerate economic growth, thus emphasised KBL’s commitment to fully contribute in the country’s economic stimulus process.

“We understand that the country is currently facing a difficult economic meltdown but we however, believe in government resuscitation process,” he said.

He stated that KBL fully believed in growing and investing in the alcohol industry as a way of  contributing to economic growth.

To that end, Mr Rivett-Carnac said KBL would continue to grow the tax base which came with increasing production, more jobs opportunities as well as an increase on sales volumes.

The company is aiming to increase its production investment from last year’s P128 million to a further P200 million this year in an effort to drive local production which would translate in growth in the local economy, Mr Rivett-Carnac said.

The P200 million investment, he said would be channeled towards scaling up production for exportation purposes.

“We have already started piloting process of the local beer exportation to Zambia and we are also working on exporting the local brewing power to the region,” he said.

Mr Rivett-Carnac stated that the investment would be towards industrialisation and improving the company’s footprint locally. ENDS