Maravi

Tujilijili had a negative impact on society - Grillo

Tujilijili had a negative impact on society - Grillo
By Selina Nyirenda
Mon 23 Apr. 2012, 13:29 CAT

NGOCC board chairperson Beatrice Grillo says the issue of tujilijili is a question of what is better for society and not individuals.

Commenting on government's ban on the manufacture, distribution, packaging, stocking, sale and consumption of the alcoholic beverage packaged in small sachets popularly known as tujilijili last week, Grillo said the government should not tolerate the illicit brew because it had a negative impact on society.

"We are against tujilijili because the alcohol content in it is very high and it is harmful. As you can see, people take only a little bit and they become very drunk. Now if you have people who take it and are highly intoxicated the whole day, just how much do you expect them to contribute to the socioeconomic development of the country or indeed to their own wellbeing? So the issue here really is a question of which is better for society," she said.

Grillo said the most affected were the youths who, instead of being productive with their lives, were wasting away to the drink.

She said tujilijili were sold freely and very cheaply, and even children had access to them and could carry them to school.

She said the ban should not only be on the tujilijili but also be extended to all other illicit beverages like kachasu brewed in the communities.

Grillo said studies had shown that those who had died as a result of abuse of alcohol had their livers damaged.

She said she sympathised with those who lost jobs as a result of the ban but advised that there were safer and profitable projects which they could engage in.

Labels: ALCOHOL, NGOCC

posted by MrK @ 6:00 PM