MoH take alcohol abuse fight to districts

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday March 14, 2014 17:08

Seakgosing said the ministry recognised the need to change the environment in which alcohol is being sold. To that end, the ministry will, in the next financial year, embark on a comprehensive study of alcohol density to assist in controlling the marketing of alcohol.

Since the coming to power of President Ian Khama in 2008, government has introduced various initiatives controlling the sale and consumption of alcohol. One was the introduction of an alcohol levy, which started at 30 percent in 2008 and rose steadily to its current 50 percent.  The government also reduced the operational hours of nightclubs and bars.

Recently, the government took the controversial decision to publish the names of convicted drunken drivers, an effort to embarrase drinkers from taking to the road after indulging. Despite these initiatives, alcohol and drug abuse remains a sore point, especially amongst young people.  There have been reports of school managements taking active steps in fighting alcohol and drug abuse in the student community.  

One of the worst affected institutions is the University of Botswana (UB) where students are said to be not only taking hardcore drugs such as cocaine but some are also peddling. Of late, UB has been holding a workshop intended to educate students about the danger of alcohol and drugs abuse and the implications that come with them.

UB’s notorious bar 411 was closed after some lectures felt that some students do not attend classes but rather choose to resort to drinking during school hours.   In 2013, UB recorded 26 cases of alcohol and drug abuses among students, out of which only seven (7) cases were recorded since the closure of the school bar 411. “Common drugs at the University of Botswana are marijuana or dagga.  Yes there are some cases that are still under investigations, they were referred to Botswana Police for further investigations,” director, public affairs Mhitshane Reetsang said.

The University sends out crime tips on a regular basis through email and hard copies and crime prevention outreach programmes are in place where security staff visit hostels to address students on the dangers of drugs, she said.