Government Reaffirms its commitment to resolve alcohol abuse.

 

Minister of Local government Garry Nkombo has reaffirmed the commitment to resolve and reduce the alcohol abuse amongst the youths.

Speaking at the sidelines of the regional Conference on Public Health in Africa, Organised by the primary care centre Research, Mr Nkombo said the government will continue enforcing regulations and will create public awareness to ensure healthy and productive citizens.

He said young people cannot be productive citizens if they start their day drinking alcohol.

Speaking earlier Head of Centre for Primary Research professor faston Goma said consumption of alcoholic drinks has cut industrial development and production.

Pro Goma has commended Local government Minister Garry Nkombo for his continuity fight against illicit brewing and consumption of alcohol.

And in presenting the findings UNZA School public Health, Dr Cosmas Zyambo said the harmful consumption of illicit alcohol is an international challenge globally one in four alcohol consumed is illicit representing 25.5% of the total alcohol market.

He said while no country is immune to the challenge of illicit alcohol, in Zambia the problem is particularly serious with 71% of all alcohol consumed being illicit.

He noted that the data collected by CPCR clearly demonstrates that most of the distillers of spirits were divorced/separated women with a primary school education.

He added that more than 70% of women produced between 20 to 100L/ Day of distilled spirits.

Dr. Zyambo says the data has shown serious negative health impacts that the high level of illicit alcohol has on the youths and young adults in Zambia.

Illicit alcohol continues to flood the Zambian market, losing the country an estimated US$145.5 million in unpaid taxes in 2017 alone.

According to the study, Market Analysis for Illicit Alcohol in sub-Saharan Africa, smuggling of packaged products into Zambia from Namibia at the Katima Mulilo border is the largest contributor to fiscal loss, with spirits and wine showing high levels of smuggling in 2017.