Maravi

Zambian Breweries welcomes LCC’s move on unlicensed beer outlets

Zambian Breweries welcomes LCC’s move on unlicensed beer outlets
Written by Nchima Nchito JR and Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:23:25 AM

ZAMBIAN Breweries Group (ZBG) has welcomed the action by Lusaka City Council to crack down on unlicensed beer outlets and those selling alcoholic beverages to underage patrons.

And Lusaka City Council (LCC) public relations officer Henry Kapata yesterday disclosed that 32 of the 53 youths that were detained over the weekend for underage drinking are below 16.

In a statement, ZBG corporate affairs manager Wendy Muche stated that her company felt encouraged that law enforcement agencies were now responding positively to calls that her company has been making in the past.

“As a responsible corporate citizen, Zambian Breweries initiated a process of drafting a National Alcohol Policy which covers concerns about under-age drinking, alcohol abuse and the issue of trading in alcohol by unlicensed outlets, among others,” she stated.

She further stated that as a responsible corporate citizen, Zambian Breweries was concerned with the indiscriminate sale of alcohol in sachets and in places that were not licensed.

Muche called upon local authorities countrywide to intensify their efforts in clamping down on the sale of alcohol on unlicensed premises.

And in an interview, Kapata said most of the youths that were arrested over the weekend were between the ages of 13 and 16.

He said the rest were aged 23 and above and were charged for interfering with the State Police.

"These are the ones that were interfering with the police when they were trying to pick up the youths," he said.

Kapata further said the 17 bar owners would be taken to court and the council was preparing recommendations to revoke their licences.

LCC over the weekend detained some youths from Chilenje's Lazymen's area and the Avondale shopping complex for drinking while allegedly being underage. The council also detained some bar owners for selling beer to minors and operating without licenses.

Labels: BEER, LCC, ZAMBIAN BREWERIES

posted by MrK @ 3:23 AM