Sale and consumption of alcohol in public spaces: Minister promises sanctions against offenders – Watch

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Sale and consumption of alcohol in public spaces: Minister promises sanctions against offenders – Watch

2:19 CAT | 01 Oct 2020

Screen grab: Miramar

The Mozambican government on Wednesday reaffirmed the ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces, stressing that offenders would be fined and, in extreme cases, detained.

The announcement was made by the Interior Minister, Amade Miquidade, after President Nyusi expressed concern over poor compliance with Covid-19 prevention measures and promised to tighten up inspection and accountability in response .

Beaches, parks, avenues, roads, sidewalks, bus stops, taxi ranks and markets are all covered by the ban, the Minister of the Interior recalled.

The ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces was implemented by Decree 54/2013 of 07 October, which approves the regulation on the production, marketing and consumption of alcoholic beverages, and predates both the declaration of the State of Emergency and the current State of Public Disaster.

The Minister of the Interior said that the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, the Ministry of Health, the National Inspection of Economic Activities and the municipal authorities would ensure compliance with measures aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19.

“The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces, namely beaches, parks, avenues, roads, sidewalks, bus stops, taxi ranks, markets, respectively, is prohibited,” Amade Miquidade said.

Any vendor or consumer failing to abide by the regulations would be sanctioned under Decree 54/2013 of 7 October, which approves the regulation on the production, marketing and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Miquidade pointed out that a vendor could be fined, and any establishment suspended or closed temporarily or permanently. A consumer could be fined 10% of the minimum wage applies and remanded in custody until sober.