Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Baledzi Gaolathe, said available evidence on health and socio-economic problems resulting from alcohol abuse were a matter of great concern to the government. He acknowledged that alcohol had an important role in the country's economy by generating jobs and tax revenues.

"Unfortunately, excessive drinking and alcoholism can have devastating consequences for individuals, families and nations," the minister said.

The level of alcohol consumption in any population was an important determinant of its health and social well-being, he added. The numbers and types of alcohol-related problems in any society tended to rise and fall with the level of alcohol consumption.

"In the African region, alcohol consumption is characterised by high levels of intake among those who drink, ready-availability of alcohol, affordability and the popularity of home-brewed beverages as well as a high prevalence of alcohol related problems," Gaolathe said.

Quoting a health statistics report, he said between 2001 and 2006, one of 10 hospital admissions were related to accidents and injuries. During the same period, 3.4 percent of all deaths were attributable to accidents and injuries.  The study attributed a substantial proportion of this morbidity and mortality to alcohol consumption.

In addition, a study on "HIV and AIDS Risk Factors Among Patients with Tuberculosis in Botswana" showed that those who consumed alcohol or whose partners drank alcohol before sex were 6.8 times more likely to have HIV infections. 

The study also showed that those who drank alcohol during treatment were 3.8 times more likely to interrupt treatment than those who did not drink alcohol during treatment.According to a report by the Southern African Epidemiological Network on Drug Use in 2003, alcohol remains the most common form of substance abuse reported by patients brought to psychiatric centres, Gaolathe said.

A recent study on Alcohol Consumption per capita, Mortality and Morbidity published by the Alcohol, Health and Research Unit of a university in England established a definitive relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality.  It showed that the higher any society's alcohol consumption, the more deaths occur.

The immediate effects of alcohol consumption include impairment of psychomotor coordination, slowed reflexes, increased blood pressure and reduced inhibitions.  Gaolathe said these effects could lead to accidents, fighting, serious injuries, risky behaviour and a high proportion of hospital emergency admissions. Gaolathe noted that alcohol consumption among the youth in Botswana was an issue of serious concern. According to a 1998 Youth Survey among secondary school students, it was found that 74 percent of current drinkers had tried alcohol before the age of 18.  Gaolathe said that was the reason the government was appealing to alcohol retailers to observe laws and regulations on underage drinking. He said like other developing countries, Botswana was undergoing rapid socio-economic transformation in which traditional cultures were under pressure due to advertisements of consumer goods, including potentially harmful products such as alcohol.

The advertisement could mislead young people into believing that alcohol consumption could enhance sexual performance, beauty, sports achievements and social success in general. Gaolathe said the government had made it a priority to address problems caused by irresponsible consumption of alcohol. "Our objectives are to lower overall access to alcohol, sensitise the public about the dangers of alcohol consumption, and redress and rehabilitate those that have been victims of alcohol consumptions," he said.One way of achieving this objective would be the development of a national policy on alcohol, he added.