KBL corporate affairs director, Percy Raditladi said the brewery is going to increase the price of beer by 4.6 percent and soft drink products by 9.3 percent, effective for all orders dispatched on or after Monday 20 February.
“These increases should be viewed in light of the current inflation and the fact that the soft drink prices were not adjusted after the devaluation of the Pula in 2005,” he said.
This will be the second time KBL will be increasing beer prices within a year after last year’s increase following the devaluation.
A 340 ml beer costs P4 in most of the local pubs whilst it is more than P10 in top hotels.
The increase of beverage prices comes just after the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Baledzi Gaolathe announced an eight percent across the board salary increase for civil servants.
A Gaborone businessman, Area Gabathuse who owns two bars, was taken aback when he was told about the price increase. He said it was coming at a wrong time when the government intends to reduce liquor trading hours. “I think things are going to be tough for our business and we will be forced to close. I think it will be better if we forget about the liquor industry. I am running two bars and I will be forced to retrench staff and the prices are increasing at the same time.”
He added that KBL should relocate to South Africa.
The price increase announcement was not welcomed by consumers. However, some loyalists have vowed to continue to imbibe the holy waters, come what may. “We are not happy about the price increase but we are going to continue to drink. It is going to be too much but there is nothing we can do about it,” said Boitumelo Lekgetho who was found at one of the Maruapula drinking holes. Lekgetho said she was also not supportive of the new legislation, which will restrict opening hours. Tebogo Sennye said he might quit drinking if the prices go up. He expressed unhappiness about the increase because beer prices went up last year.
Meanwhile, Raditladi has declined to comment on the proposed legislation, which is aimed at restricting drinking hours. He could only say they were not consulted about the new law, which will become effective in April.
