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{
    "id": 106649,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/106649/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 294,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Foreign Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "You may recall that in the last Parliament, hon. Kembi-Gitura brought a Motion here which was passed. The Motion stopped satcheting alcohol in small miniature packets for every youth to be able to pick five bob from a Member of Parliament so that they could buy alcohol. That Motion was never implemented. But more important, I think that we who were in the Seventh Parliament take responsibility for mutilating the Chiefs Authority Act. This Act, at that time, used to do some of the issues Mr. Mututho has included in this Bill. Consumption of alcohol per se is not a problem. Consumption of alcohol per se does not create problems. It is the indiscipline and recklessness that goes with it that is the problem. In my view, I have never seen any difference between a Member of Parliament or a person of our calibre who goes to a bar and drinks himself silly and the villager who drinks himself silly. We are all the same. What we lack is the discipline. If you trace our history, you will recall that in the old days, there were regulated drinking hours. Whether they were bars or local brews, there was always time for opening and allowing people to consume alcohol, time for people to take leave and go home and rest for the next day. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, you will recall in 1982 when we had an attempted coup in this country, there was a famous joint we used to frequent as students called “Delicious Afro-Unity”. When the coup came and there was a curfew, it was discovered that the premise did not have a door because it was open 24 hours. It was neither opened nor closed. It was permanently in use. When you have a situation like that in a country, then you know you have serious difficulties. Every single hon. Member here, when they go to their constituencies, they have a serious engagement with their youths on alcohol. We must pass this Bill and enforce the provisions in it. We must enforce discipline in the country. The law should curtail and ban the brewing and selling of alcohol in private homes as a start. All alcohol brewed and sold should be in regulated places where hygiene is enforced and time for consumption is an issue. There is also the issue of quality of alcohol. We can borrow from our neighbours. In Tanzania, what they call “ Konyagi” is actually Chang’aa. It is brewed, distilled, quality controlled, packaged and properly sold to consumers. In Uganda there is a drink called “ Waragi”. It is nothing but Chang’aa which is brewed, quality controlled, packaged and sold in a regulated manner. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in one of the schedules on page 686, the Mover and the proponent of the Motion has listed four items that those who sell alcohol should bring to the attention of the public. That there should be clear warning that excess consumption is harmful to your health. That is correct. There should also be a warning that excess consumption of alcohol can cause liver cirrhosis. That is correct. There should also be a warning that excess consumption of alcohol impairs your judgment and so, you should not drive or operate machinery. That is correct. That alcohol should not be for sale to persons under the age of 18. That is also correct."
}