Rédaction Africa Links 24 with William Door Malek
Published on 2024-03-09 02:42:59
The state government in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal has taken a firm stance against the sale of alcoholic beverages bearing the brand name gin, such as Star Gin, Master Gin, Uganda U.G. Gin, and Disco Gin. They have cited the harmful effects that these drinks have on the people who consume them, leading to a ban on their sale in the state.
The decision to ban these types of gins was made by the Council of Ministers in the state on July 20, 2022. The order was officially implemented on March 6, 2024, in Aweil. Following this, the government took action to confiscate these prohibited alcoholic beverages and issued an order on March 1, 2024, to burn them at Nyalath.
Aweil Mayor Zachariah Dut Mou reported that 6,000 cartons of various gin types were confiscated, with some traders complying with the request to remove their goods from the state. However, a large number of sacks containing confiscated gins were left unclaimed by their owners. As a result, the decision was made to burn the remaining gins to prevent their illegal distribution.
The Information and Communication Minister of Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal State, Garang Zachariah Lual, highlighted the ongoing issue of smuggling these banned alcoholic beverages into the state. In response, approximately 10,000 bottles of gins were destroyed to send a strong message to importers and distributors that such activities will not be tolerated.
Furthermore, Garang emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing the ban on gins and the imposition of strict penalties on individuals involved in smuggling or selling these prohibited items. He also mentioned that the government is working on banning factories that manufacture gins to prevent their production and distribution in the region.
A member of the Eritrean community in Aweil, Takhalid Bhayhene, acknowledged the ban on gins in the town and emphasized the importance of complying with the government’s regulations to maintain public health and safety. Similarly, John Gau, the Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce, echoed the concerns about the negative effects of gins on young people and reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing the ban on these harmful substances.
Overall, the government of Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State is taking proactive measures to address the dangers associated with the consumption of gins and to protect the wellbeing of its citizens. Through stringent enforcement of the ban and punitive measures against violators, they strive to create a safer and healthier environment for the people of the state.
Read the original article on Talk of Juba
