Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Juba traders and residents have exhibited mixed reactions to the Juba City Council’s ban on some alcoholic drinks deemed unfit for consumption. Joseph Tesfaye, a wine and spirits seller based in Hai-Mauna, said it is always important to respect the government’s orders on business.
He says any business that does not abide by government laws is doomed to failure. “We will obey the orders, but it depends on the implementation of the orders since you know the South Sudanese very well when it comes to issuing orders and their implementation is something different,” Mr Tesfaye stresses. He said the government could be trying to make a policy that can easily help the country reduce alcohol-related illnesses and deaths.
“This small spirit alcohol can be controlled easily but needs rightful plans. First of all, start by closing the doors where alcohol enters the country. Impose more taxes on the traders dealing with such a business, and do not leave breathing space for them,” he explained, as he warned that failing to prevent the entry of such harmful products would defeat the logic of instituting a ban.
Jess Maiga, who also sells alcoholic brands such as Star Gin, Boss Gin, London No1, Royal Special Gin, and others, said the order is good, but he too doubts whether it will be affected. Jess argued that sometimes authorities create such orders just to get money from those who are selling alcohol.
“I have just heard from you that they have banned the sale of that alcohol. I last heard it last year, but up to today, I have been selling it because no officials came to tell me that they had stopped it because they were everywhere in Juba,” he said.
Malish Ezibona, one of the elders of Gudele 2, who opposes the sale of spirits in the residential areas, says it is a good order. “We waited for that some years back, but we are not seeing any fruits from those millions of orders in South Sudan, and with the decrees happening every few minutes, I do not think these orders will be implemented,” he stated.
One of the alcohol consumers, Makaraka Azidia, describes the mayors’ orders on the ban of spirits as ‘useless’ and an order that cannot be enforced in light of the South Sudanese living conditions.
“The mayor is just making noise so that people can say he is working well. From where did he come up with these useless orders? This cannot work, brother, so the mayor with his orders will leave us with this alcohol,” Azidia says.
He blames the Juba City Council for just trying to create ways of getting money from traders. On Monday, the Mayor of Juba City Council, Michael Thomas Allah-Jabu, banned the sale of harmful liquor within residential areas. He said the unrestricted sales of small bottled spirits and night discos in residential areas were spoiling the young people in Juba City.
Among the harmful and alcoholic beverages to be banned are Star Gin, Boss Gin, London No1, Royal Special Gin, Mater Gin, B-52 Gin, Royal No1 Vodka, Cheer Vodka, Vodka Mix, Royal Blue, Prime Vodka, White Tusker Vodka, Mambuka, Premium Vodka, Fly Coconut Vodka, Prime Kiss Vodka, Ice Palace Vodka, Prime Vodka, Flirat Vodka, Golden Dry Gin, and Fan Gin.
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