The Botswana Alcohol Industry Association (BAIA), Business Botswana (BB) and Botswana Beverages Association (BOBA) have expressed a concern regarding the indefinite suspension of alcohol by the government of Botswana on Monday.
In a joint press release, the three (3) organizations noted with concern that the government has somehow marginalized them. According to the said organizations, though they always fall victim to sale bans when Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) cases go up, there in no proof that banning alcohol trade is any effective.
“History has proven that the blanket prohibition of alcohol trade is not an effective mechanism to reduce transmission of Covid-19 and ultimately does considerably more harm where the Preservation of lives and livelihoods is concemed. So, while we respect this decision, it is disheartening to find that the alcohol industry is, once again. being disproportionately targeted by Government efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.” the press release proclaimed.
Furthermore, the three (3) organizations expressed displeasure on the government’s decision to make choices which affect them without neither prior consultation nor notice. “We also fail to understand the choice to announce a ban without prior notice to the alcohol industry, despite multiple appeals in the past for this consideration. As an example of the result of the last-minute announcement, our members were forced to recall trucks en route to deliver products to wholesalers/retailers especially outside of Gaborone. Additionally, KBL is in the process of decanting hectoliters of its Chibuku product, due to its short shelf-life. This is a huge cost that our members will have to incur which could have been avoided”. the organizations expressed. In the past the organizations have pleaded with the government to consult or at least give them notice if such decisions are to be taken, unfortunately the government has a different point of view.
While the the three (3) organizations urge their members to comply with the government’s decision, they also challenge the government to come up with better solutions. They implore law enforcement agencies to increase their patrols on the few known hotspots which violate COVID-19 protocols. The alcohol sale ban comes after the reports that alcohol consumers were seen crowded and violating COVID-19 protocols somewhere around Gaborone.
