The Western Bahr el Ghazal State government has banned the making, importation, and sale of alcoholic spirits classified as dangerous and contributing to rising crime in the capital, Wau.
Some of the banned alcoholic beverages include Uganda Waragi, Royal Blue, Imperial Gin, Star Gin, Bond 7, Boss Gin, and Jaguar Cocktail. Medicines like tramadol and other narcotic drugs were also banned.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, the state’s information minister, Samuel Nicola Cornelio, said the ban was instituted on 10 June and came into force immediately.
“The state council of ministers decided to ban all the harmful alcohol entering the state,” he said. “We will take responsibility and full action on the decision we have taken, and measures will be taken against any company or any business that continues selling these harmful drinks.”
The minister stated that medicines that are abused by people will now only be given or sold with a doctor’s prescription.
He announced that any company found producing or selling the banned alcoholic drinks will be fined SSP 20 million, while people found selling them will be fined SSP 15 million or sentenced to a jail term, or both.
Meanwhile, Stephen Robo Musa, the chairperson of the state civil society network, welcomed the ban, saying it will control the consumption of harmful alcohol.
“We welcome the ban as civil society, it is a positive step toward controlling the youth from the use of harmful drinks and unauthorized drugs,” he said. “It is good that the order is out, but our concern now is its sustainability because when it comes to implementation, there are often compromises in the long run.”