Parliament receives policy to reign tipplers in

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Friday July 16, 2010 00:00

The proposed National Alcohol Policy for Botswana was formulated to regulate the alcohol trade and protect those at risks associated with the abuse of alcohol. The policy is also intended to address issues of alcohol consumption and abuse, both at individual and social levels.Motowane said the objective of the policy is to provide a framework for a multi-sectoral implementation of strategies at national, district, local and community levels.  It is also meant to comprehensively address issues of alcohol production, distribution, marketing and consumption.

He said there is evidence of ill health and other social ills resulting from high prevalence of alcohol consumption.He told Parliament that this has caused great concern to the government and the society at large.

These concerns led to the separation of the Trade and Liquor Act into the Trade Act 2003 and the Liquor Act 2003.The intention was to tighten the regulation of the alcohol trade compared to trade in general.

The regulation of the liquor trade was aimed at reducing the proliferation of liquor outlets and consumption of intoxicating liquor. Motowane said studies have indicated that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a number of social and economic problems as domestic violence, crime, road accidents, low productivity and absenteeism from work.He added that alcohol consumption and abuse is also linked to 60 known diseases, among them cardio vascular diseases and live cirrhosis.

The Assistant Minister said in response to this situation, several interventions have been initiated to redress harmful effects of alcohol consumption. These include the introduction of the alcohol levy in 2008, the establishment of the Inter-sectorial Committee on Alcohol Abuse and the amendment of the Road Traffic Act to provide for stiffer penalties. 

In addition, there has also been the implementation of the Liquor Act and educational campaigns against alcohol abuse.

Motowane said the resources generated from the alcohol levy are being used to finance various intervention measures and projects aimed at reducing alcohol abuse.

The National Alcohol Policy for Botswana, he said, will provide a framework to design a comprehensive guide for priority setting, programme development, programme implementation, inter-sectoral coordination and the evaluation of intervention measures.

The policy has identified eight priority areas which will form the core elements:

*Inter-sectoral collaboration to improve coordination. The policy proposes the continuation of the inter-sectoral coordination committee which will ensure that interventions by various stakeholders are consistent with the objective of the policy.

* Increasing community action and support Government will work with communities to ensure that problems related to alcohol abuse are addressed at community level.

*Strengthening Public Education and AwarenessThe policy proposes that government continues to coordinate mass campaigns on social, economic and health effects of alcohol consumptions.

* Reducing the Health Impacts of Alcohol AbuseThe policy proposes interventions by the health sector to reduce the health impact of alcohol abuse through user-friendly facilities and programmes targeting those who drink alcohol and alcoholics.

* Ensure Public Safety and AmenityGovernment will continue to strengthen measures to ensure public safety through improved enforcement of existing regulations such as random health tests, sobriety check points and stiffer penalties for offenders.

* Responsbile Marketing and Advertising The policy says the government will regulate the availability of alcoholic beverages such as production, trading, promotion, marketing and advertising of alcohol.  The Ministry of Trade and Industry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, will continue to apply appropriate taxation measures to reduce affordability of alcohol and to provide resources to finance interventions programmes.

* Addressing Illegally and Informally Produced AlcoholAccording to the policy, studies indicate that production and consumption of illicit alcoholic beverages account for a significant proportion of alcoholism. The policy aims to introduce measures that will control the production and sale of illegal and informally produced alcohol.

*  Research, Networking and Exchange of InformationThe policy says effective regulation of production and distribution of alcohol will depend on a clear understanding of the social, economic and health consequences of abuse of alcohol. The policy will support research initiatives into various dimensions of alcohol consumption.

Motowane told Parliament that in recognition of the fact that the ills associated with alcohol consumption and abuse are mainly health related, the government has ordered that the responsibility for the coordination of policy should be transferred to the Ministry of Health.