Skip to main content
TURALEI/GOGRIAL - 6 Feb 2015

Warrap State bans beer-drinking at weddings

Warrap State is seeking to reduce binge-drinking at marriage ceremonies in order to prevent crime, according to the state minister of local government.

Authorities informed Twic County chiefs during a meeting in Turalei Youth hall to advise their people not to drink beer during marriage ceremonies on the basis that it wastes money and causes crime by drunkards.

Warrap State Minister of Local Government  Achuil Tito Madut says he wants the chiefs to support the idea. "There are some bad beers which need to be banned in the community."

"People like to drink free alcohols during marriages but the parents to the daughter remain with nothing at the end. We want to go back to our normal system where beer was not bought."

In another part of the state, last month in Gogrial West County chiefs and officials decided to ban outright aragi and imported beer in order to curb crime. They decided to continue to allow the consumption of locally brewed sorghum beer.

Gogrial West Commissioner Wol Anei told Radio Tamazuj the decision aimed to prevent the consumption of alcohol deemed "harmful" to citizens' health, which in turn would reduce crime.

He said that the decision was taken after exhaustive discussions with about 70 native administration leaders in the county at a meeting last month lasting several days.

The official disclosed that whoever is found drinking banned alcohol will be fined or jailed.

Meanwhile in Twic County, Kacbeek Boma, executive chief of Ayuel Ayuel says they have welcomed the recent government order to stop drinking at weddings. He says the ban is an opportunity for improvement of health of the people.

“I do not want the local beer such as siko, jenzabil to be made for the marriages. Beer is not needed in the marriages because it introduces the problems such fighting the locals," he said.