Free transport for drunkards over Easter

Mar 28, 2013

The Uganda Alcohol Industry Association (UAIA) has offered free shuttles to bar patrons for use over the Easter week-end.

By John Odyek

The Uganda Alcohol Industry Association (UAIA) has offered free shuttles to bar patrons for use over the Easter week-end.


The association explained that the purpose of the move was to prevent their clients from falling into the hands of Police.

 The chairman of the association Sudeep Mohanty made the announcement Wednesday during a meeting (Alcohol Industry Stakeholders Conclave) held at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala.

"We will put transport in high traffic points in Kampala. It is a symbolic gesture to show that you can drink but you don't have to drive but someone can drive you and you reach safely home," Mohanty said.

The move comes against a background of increased Police vigilance in arresting drivers who have consumed high levels of alcohol and when put under the breathalyzer they are found in violation of the traffic law.

Onapito Ekomoloit executive member of the association urged Police to enforce the law on drink driving humanely.

Ekomolait pledged that they would work with the Police and other stakeholders to promote responsible drinking.

"If you see a vehicle provided by the association get into it. There will be luxurious means of transport. Consumers have a right to drink but those under 18 years should not drink," said Ekolomoit also corporate affairs director at Nile Breweries.

Dr Ben Manyindo, executive director Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) said the bureau had registered 36 alcohol producers who have over 78 certified products.

"Drinking alcohol is not bad but the abuse of alcohol is what is bad. The biggest issue is misuse in consumption and in manufacturing. We want awareness to be created to enable people consume alcohol responsibly and manufacture according to standards," Manyindo emphasized.

Manyindi added that they were concerned that there manufacturers of alcohol who were not registered with UNBS and also they were not members of the association.

"We want to regulate industries through their associations. This makes our work easy," he stressed.

Based on results from 2007 WHO (World Health Organisation) Global Status Report on Alcohol, Uganda's overall alcohol consumption was an average of 10.9 liters per capita.

WHO said this is unusually high compared to surrounding countries. Luxembourg is the world's most alcohol consuming country with a total of 15.5 liters per capita according to The Economist.

It is closely followed by France which consumes 14.8 litres per capita, Ireland with 13.5 litres per capita, Hungary with 13.4 litres per capita and Czech Republic with 12.1 litres per capita.

 

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