Highly alcoholic drinks are increasingly attracting beer lovers. Despite its ban, traders brave the danger and still sell brandy. Consumers illegally drink limited access liquors. Reporting.
The granting of the recognition document for an industrial project for the transformation of liquors suspended until further notice.
During a nighttime stroll (after 8 p.m.) in one of the neighborhoods of the Gihosha zone, we discovered a dangerous practice. Kick stamped boxes attract the attention of passers-by. It is a makeshift refreshment stand set up along a dirt road. From afar, we can already hear the hubbub of customers quenching their thirst. The job requires. The closer we get, the more the curiosity to know more grows. All of a sudden, we decide to go through the door to see with our own eyes what’s going on inside.
Unsurprisingly, the men discuss the highlights of the final between Ivory Coast and Nigeria the day before. Nothing special, but we take the opportunity to enjoy a cold coke, especially since this product is becoming more and more rare. We strain our eardrums and our reporter pupils to identify the source of the characteristic odor of ethyl alcohol. It only took one look to see that only a man in police uniform is holding an Amstel bottle between his boots. Curiously, he is a police officer known by all for his eternal state of intoxication; a disciple among the disciples of Bacchus. What is worrying is that the others share a bottle of liquor. They take turns taking a sip. Finally, we discover a strategy to camouflage this drink now banned for retail trade. The “lethal” liquid, rather the liquor, is transferred into plastic bottles which contained mineral water or juice. As if lovers of the holy foam were taking the juice. It’s hard to believe that bikers park their machines just to drink juice and stay there beyond 8 p.m. This calls on more than one person to eradicate forever these drinks which are slowly killing us.
Strongly alcoholic drinks
The process of manufacturing these drinks through the dilution of imported industrial alcohol worries many. Manufacturers add a certain flavor to it based on consumer preference. The composition shown on the packaging shows that the volume of alcohol is close to 42%, the equivalent of nine bottles of Primus.
You will understand to what extent the consumption of these drinks affects your health. Moreover, manufacturers warn consumers that it is strictly forbidden to consume it on an empty stomach or when you have to drive a vehicle. People under the age of 18 can never drink the water of life. This warning shows that these drinks constitute a danger for low-income populations who consume them without moderation.
Still a long way to go…
In a communiqué, the Minister of Commerce and Industry announces the temporary suspension of the granting of a recognition document for a liquor processing project. “ Pending the implementation of recent measures to protect consumer health and control the marketing of these highly alcoholic drinks, the Minister in charge of industry is suspending the granting of the recognition document for an industrial project for processing of liquors until further notice », Specifies the press release.
This measure is also intended to strengthen the supervision of existing beverage processing companies.
As a reminder, Minister Marie Chantal Nijimbere has formally prohibited the retail trade of drinks with more than 16% alcohol, in drinking establishments, except in bars and restaurants in category B and C. From the start of this year, the authorities have seized bottles containing the liqueurs, but this has not succeeded in eradicating this phenomenon.
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