Details of the incidents are that the police reported that they received a report on February 14 from Kanye Seventh Day Adventist Hospital that yet another 34-year-old woman had complications after drinking the traditional brew. The police further revealed that the substance was being examined to establish what could have caused the woman’s death. The woman’s death, though it is likely to be one of many others has fuelled the debate around the lifting of the ban on alcohol and sustainability given growing incidents of people indulging in illegal traditional brews which are also health hazards. Since January 4, when a nationwide curfew came into effect liquor sale also came to a halt. As the country completes what is the second dry month, the unavailability of liquor has arguably had two major repercussions on health and government revenue. Botswana is amongst a handful of countries that have stopped alcohol sales while imposing nationwide curfews despite its relatively low cases of COVID-19 deaths/cases. On the contrary, other countries that have been reeling under severe COVID-19 attacks seem to have relaxed their regulations on alcohol as they consider it an essential industry in the economy.
While we all know that alcohol consumption can exacerbate health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviors, mental health issues and violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to consider the consequences of its ban on the economy.
