Can gov�t cure self-inflicted �cancer�? :: Mmegi Online

When government recklessly increased the infamous Alcohol Levy willy-nilly in the last eight years, there was caution from some quarters that the move was likely to usher in black market and uncontrolled drug abuse. Could there be a link between high alcohol prices and an increase in drug abuse? Mmegi Staffer BAME PIET explores the possibilities

At a pub in a township just less than 20 kilometres outside Gaborone, a group of youth are enjoying their drinks on a Saturday afternoon, probably after attending a funeral or preparing for a wedding in the neighbourhood. Social events and frequenting bars are the kind of entertainment common in rural areas where there are no recreational facilities.

Rasta* joins one the groups carrying a 750 ml drink commonly known as a quart. Not far from the group of four, sits another seemingly older group of youth who are also busy with their conversation and not interested in Rasta’s arrival.

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