Khama hikes alcohol levy again?

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday March 16, 2010 00:00

President Ian Khama on Sunday announced that he will be hiking the alcohol levy again in the next few weeks to make it more unaffordable, in an effort to deter consumers from drinking.

He introduced a 30 percent alcohol levy in 2008, which hit hard on the earnings of clear beer brewers, while two other traditional brewers based in Tlokweng had to close shop.

President Khama made the latest announcement to hike the levy while addressing one of his routine kgotla meetings at Mmatshumu village, near the diamond town of Letlhakane.

The president's latest announcement, regarding the control of alcohol, comes hardly a week after his office released a controversial white paper called the National Strategy for the Promotion of Good Social Values, which among other issues states that the Ministry of Trade and Industry will pitch the alcohol drinking age from 18 to 21 years in Botswana, as well as make it mandatory to demand proof of age for anyone entering nightclubs, bars, bottle stores and music festivals.

Speaking on national television from Mmatshumu during the 7pm news on Sunday evening Khama told the villagers:  'parents are failing to instill discipline in the family, now you the public have appealed to government for help; it has become a common sight to see people drinking beer in our communities from as early as 8am; the youth copy this habit because that's what they see around them growing up, they assume it is part of the culture to drink alcohol. We will introduce a 30 percent alcohol levy as an anti-alcohol abuse measure, in the next few weeks, I will continue to increase the alcohol levy; it is a pity parents are failing to guide their children', Khama said speaking in Setswana.

The president's remarks were preceded by an outcry from one of the village officials who told the president that their village is awash with drunkenness and that the youth have resorted to alcohol abuse.

Meanwhile Trade and Industry Minister, Dorcas Malesu yesterday  told Mmegi in an interview that  her ministry is in the process of evaluating a number of interventions relating  to alcohol abuse, among them the alcohol levy.

'The increase in alcohol levy is something that could come out of that; I can confirm that we are evaluating a number of interventions specifically  to deal with  alcohol abuse; we are in that process,' Malesu told Mmegi.

The recent announcement will come as a blow to the alcohol industry in Botswana which has been complaining of a drop in profits since the levy was introduced.

President Khama has also put into force laws limiting the hours of operation for nightclubs and bars and bottle stores. During midweek, bars and nightclubs open at 3pm and close at 12 midnight. Nightclubs close at 2am during the weekend.