Our alcohol levy among the lowest

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 23, 2010 00:00

Parliament was also informed that the overall consumption of alcohol per litre has decreased from seven million in the third quarter of 2008 to four million litres in the first quarter of 2009, but shot up again to 6.2 million litres in the fourth quarter of last year.

South East Member of Parliament (MP) Odirile Mothale had asked Trade and Industry Minister Dorcas Makgetho-Malesu, among other things, to cite countries where the alcohol levy has been successfully implemented.

She said in the United Kingdom (UK), the alcohol levy on clear beer is 40 percent, 43 percent in Australia, and 56 percent in Ghana. Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritius both have 55 percent alcohol levy, while Nigeria's levy is 45 percent. Finand's alcohol levy is 60 percent.

In Norway, Sweden, Finland, they also have a separate levy for spirits at 80 percent, 87 percent, and 88 percent cent, the minister said.

Mothale also wanted the minister to say whether the levy has been effective in Botswana.

She explained that in April this year two consulting firms, Deloitte and Touche and Probe Market Intelligence, were engaged to determine the effectiveness of the levy and other interventions in reducing excessive alcohol consumption.

However, Makgetho-Malesu said the findings of the study are that drinking habits have not changed significantly since the introduction of the alcohol levy in November 2008. The minister said the consultants have recommended that government should intensify and continue with targeted public education utilising the alcohol levy for sustained behaviour change.