The state government in Eastern Equatoria has backtracked on a ban it instituted last week on the importation of alcoholic spirits and brewing of local potent gins and gave people dealing in them a 40-day ultimatum from Thursday last week to cease business.
The alcohol prohibition ordered by the state cabinet last week was aimed at reducing widespread alcohol-related crimes in the state according to local officials.
The state information minister of information, Patrick Oting Cyprian, told the press after the council of ministers meeting on Thursday, “In last week’s sitting, on 5 August, the resolution was about the banning of harmful alcoholic drinks but this week we went through and it is going to be effective in that resolution there are alcoholic drinks that are banned, there are more than 60 or even up to 80 types. It is now in effect, however, they have given 40 days from today (12 August) for the shop owners to clear all these banned alcohol.”
He added: “When the 40 days elapse, a team will go to look at the bars, shops, the wholesalers and the retailers to see about these alcoholic drinks that are banned in the state and if it is found that you still have them, then you will be fined. Those fines are categorized and the highest is 1 million followed by 300,000 SSP and then it goes down depending on the nature of business, so this is a very serious case.”
When asked if the traders whose imported alcohol was poured to the ground last week would be compensated, the minister did not comment.
John Mayen, the secretary-general of the chamber of commerce in Eastern Equatoria State welcomed the 40-day ultimatum but said traders who imported large quantities of the banned booze will experience losses. He added that the traders whose alcohol stock was destroyed should be compensated in light of the new ultimatum.
“In regards to the order of today (Thursday), we heard about it last week. It is not bad but I fear the traders who brought these alcoholic drinks in large quantities may get losses. Also, some companies producing this alcohol are in Juba but I can’t talk about the imported ones because it will affect the traders,” Mayen said. “The state prohibited this alcohol because it spoils people and they don’t cultivate, but secondly the traders, on the other hand, are looking for money. So, it is very difficult to reconcile, but we are concerned as the chamber of commerce. They would have been allowed to sell the current stock that they have and not bring in more.”
An activist, Oryema Emmanuel, said much as there is the abuse of alcohol in the state, the order must have a basis in the existing laws of the country.
“This order must be relevant with the available laws of the Republic of South Sudan because that could be the basis but it is not just a matter of waking up by the council of ministers to announce orders,” Oryema said. “Truthfully, our people drink in a wrong way, they drink alcohol to the extent of killing themselves, beating their wives, and causing a lot of domestic violence and that is not good. The stock of the traders has to be compensated by the government before being poured away.”
Some of the banned spirits include Royal Blue, Boss Gin, Golden Gin, Star Gin, Royal Vodka, Gilbeys Gin, Smirnoff, and Fun See.