The Minister of State for Investment & Privatization, Anite Evelyn, and State Minister for Industry, David Bahati, Thursday met officials of Uganda Alcohol Industry Association regarding the Alcohol Drinks Control Bill 2022.

The Bill is a Private Member’s Bill that seeks to regulate manufacture, importation, sale & consumption of alcohol in the country. It was introduced to Parliament by Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament Sarah Opendi.

According to the Alcohol industrialists, the Bill poses a threat to the nations core liberties & economic environment. They say, if passed into law, it will be an assault on consumer choice & access to consumer goods & services by imposing business hours restrictions & affecting livelihoods of people employed in the industry.

In clause 14 of the Alcoholics Drinks Control Bill 2023, Opendi is proposing to regulate time within which alcoholic drinks are sold in Uganda by limiting sale of alcohol to only 5hours during working days and 12 hours during weekends.

“A licensee shall not sell an alcoholic drink or native liquor before- (a) l7:00 hours and after 22:00 hours on working days; (b) 12:00 hours and after 00:00 hours on public holidays and weekends,” noted Opendi.

The Bill proposes a jail term of 10 years or fine of Shs20million for anyone found selling alcoholic drinks before 5pm & beyond 10pm on working days.

In clause 26, the Bill is seeking to ban the packing, importing or selling an alcoholic drink in a sachet, plastic bottle & proposed a fine not exceeding one thousand currency points (Shs20Million) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years, or both.

In clause 25 proposed a ban on the sale or supply of an alcoholic drink to a person below the age 18 & proposed a fine not exceeding two thousand currency points (Shs40Million) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 years, or both.

In clause 30 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, Opendi wants sellers of alcoholic drinks on-line to put in place mechanisms to verify the age of the buyer & anyone who fails to do so, should be held liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred currency points (Shs4Million) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both.