South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria State government has banned the sale and consumption of spirits including the brewing of local gin.
The ban, ordered by the state cabinet after a meeting last Thursday, has been effected to reduce widespread alcohol-related crimes in the state.
Some of the banned spirits include Royal Blue, Boss Gin, Golden Gin, Star Gin, Royal Vodka, Gilbeys Gin, Smirnoff, and Fun See.
The State Minister of Trade and Industry Ruth Marious Buga, also the acting Information minister n says the ban includes all types of alcoholic drinks that are harmful to the lives of citizens.
“Our Council of Ministers have resolved to ban alcohol in Eastern Equatoria, the alcohol that is harmful to the health of people of Eastern Equatoria especially the youth. It will be effective from today” said Ruth. “This is because we have seen how this alcohol has been so harmful in our society and also a lot of criminal activities have been linked also to this very harmful and very strong alcohol. Many counties and many states in South Sudan have also banned this alcohol."
She emphasized that the state is concerned for the health and safety of its citizens.
"As we are working into implementing the peace agreement, we are looking at the very healthy and productive citizens in South Sudan, not just Eastern Equatoria alone,” she noted.
The official said that the supply of local alcohol ingredients such as sugar and yeast will also be regulated while warning those found in violation of the ban of hefty fines.
"We are putting it as one of the concerns on how we gonna regulate the sugar, we have the yeast whereby the local drink that is made from it, the sugar and yeast called “Takaya”. We are trying also to ban Takaya because it is one of the most harmful alcohols affecting our society. So we gonna ban some of the brands of yeast and leave the ones that are good for making the food products," she added.
Minister Ruth further announced that a committee will be formed to work with state security operatives for a month to monitor the markets and fine those found in violation of the orders.
For his part, the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Peter Lokeng Lotone said his ministry will ensure the orders are implemented.
“As the concerned ministry, we are going to allow the police to implement this order. Anybody who is violating has to be brought to the law and he will face the law maybe he can be punished," he warned.
However, civil society activist Charles Okullu Cyprian who heads Eastern Equatoria State’s Civil Society Network says the government should have consulted before resolving to order the ban as many people especially women make a living from brewing alcohol.